asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions have taken place between his Department, British Rail and the Islington Borough Council regarding the utilisation of Tufnell Park Goods Depot, N.19, for social development.

As this site is the subject of a planning appeal by the British Railways Board, it would not be proper for me to make any comment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he can now announce if there is to be a public inquiry into the routing of the A5111 bypass through Allestree, Derby.

Not yet.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will issue a general direction to British Rail that, wherever television passenger surveillance techniques are employed at railway stations, passengers should be notified that these are operating.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he had with chairmen and officials of county councils within Lincolnshire prior to making a decision to seek to set up a new county council of Humberside.

My right hon. Friend's proposals for a Humberside county arose from a lack of local agreement on the most appropriate new areas, together with the circumstances arising from the decision on the new Humber bridge and the likely development of Humberside itself, rather than directly from representations made by local authorities. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State is today visiting Humberside to hear authorities' views on our proposal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what financial assistance is currently available from public funds to assist rural bus services; and what additional assistance he is proposing to make available.

The Government give the following assistance to rural bus services; half the cost of the local authorities' grant aid, the remainder being eligible for rate support grant; fuel tax rebate and new bus grant, the rate of which has recently been doubled.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to improve the lighting in the Crypt of the Palace of Westminster.

I sympathise with my hon. Friend's proposal, and I am studying a scheme which might be proposed to the authorities responsible for the Crypt.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what grants he proposes to make available to British Rail, Southern Region, for its commuter services; and how these compare with the commuter grants which were previously withdrawn.

Revenue grants will be paid to meet the difference between costs and earnings. Capital grants are available for worthwhile improvements to the system. Neither has been withdrawn.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment to what extent, when considering applications submitted to him by British Rail for closures of passenger rail services on grounds of unprofitability, he takes into account recommendations from the appropriate passenger transport consultative committees that the services concerned are socially necessary.

Fully, together with other relevant factors.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will announce his Department's decision on the continuation of grant-aided schemes for those uneconomic railway lines whose grant expires on 31st December, 1971.

Early next year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what decisions have been taken regarding the future of the Norwich-Cromer and East Suffolk rail services.

To undertake to pay grant until the end of 1972; and, as with all grant-aided services, to keep them under continuing review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now prepare a transportation plan providing for increased use of railways for the carrying of passengers and freight, together with a policy of positive discouragement of transporting heavy loads for long distances by road.

It is for the transport industry to develop in such a way as best meets the needs of its customers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about the Government Grants (Infrastructure Grants) referred to in the Railway Gazette, October 1971, a copy of which is in his possession.

The extension of the grant scheme has been generally welcomed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider seeking powers to improve public transport facilities to employment exchanges and to the offices of the Supplementary Benefits Commission.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a grant towards the expenses of the principal amenity group objecting at the forthcoming public inquiry to the proposals for the expansion of Luton Airport.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what he estimates will be the net gain or loss from the combination over the next decade of the growth of mortgage tax relief or the redistribution of local authority housing subsidies to those in the income bands, respectively, under £1,000 a year. £1,001–£2,000, £2001–£5,000, and over £5,000 a year.

Such estimates would depend on many factors and assumptions and would not be reliable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment by how much he estimates the present £155 million a year Government subsidy to council housing will increase by 1975–76, based on the anticipated growth in numbers of council houses by that year under existing subsidy provisions.

If the existing system continued, estimated net charges on the Consolidated Fund in connection with housing in England and Wales for 1975–76 might be about £550 million, as compared with about £350 million for 1971–72.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on land available for future refuse disposal.

The availability of sites suitable for refuse disposal purposes is a matter for local authorities to consider. The form of the review of waste disposal facilities referred to in circular 26/71 is now in course of preparation and it is hoped that the opportunity will be taken in the course of this review to assemble information about the availability of further sites with particular regard to suitability for use in schemes of planned land reclamation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take steps to ensure that advantages of British technology are used in Great Britain by enabling, through financial assistance, the first passenger-carrying hovertrain service based on it to be initiated in this country rather than abroad.

With the approval of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, the National Research Development Corporation is assisting development of the hovertrain. It is too early to make a commitment about its use on particular routes in Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy with regard to land purchased in excess of requirements for roads, and land no longer required by his Department owing to improvement or diversion of old roads; and what advice he has given to highway authorities on this subject.

Subject to the Crichel Down procedure in respect of agricultural land and to first offer to other Government Departments and local authorities, the policy is to dispose of any surplus land as quickly as possible. The general advice which has been issued to local authorities about disposal of surplus land is applicable to local highway authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the mileage of new motorways on which it is not intended to install crash barriers before the motorways are opened, the additional cost which would have to be incurred to provide the barriers before the motorways are opened, and the estimated cost of providing the barriers at later dates.

Within the programme of 1,000 miles of motorway barrier by 1975, about 100 miles of new motorway will not be provided with barriers before opening. The cost of installing barriers prior to opening would have been approximately £13,000 per mile. The estimated cost of providing barriers at later dates is expected to be about £11,000 per mile.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will provide extra coach parking facilities in central London, on sites under his control, particularly during the peak tourist season; and what consultations he is having with the Greater London Council, the borough councils and the police to improve the situation generally.

My Department already provides over 100 coach parking places in Green Park and St. James's Park for the benefit of visitors to the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. The only other area available to me for this purpose is Horse Guards Parade and I hope the right hon. Gentleman will agree that in the broad interest of public amenity this parade should not be used as a coach-park. My Department is in continual touch with the Greater London Council, Westminster City Council and the police over the very difficult problem of coach parking in central London.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what assistance he is giving to research into methods of reducing the level of sulphur dioxide emitted into the atmosphere as a result of the burning of fuel.

As far as low-level emissions are concerned what is most needed is not research, but action. This I am stimulating by pressing people to go ahead with smoke control. As regards power stations and other high-level emitters, I am considering whether any current research project merits financial support.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what changes in planning law and practice he envisages in the event of British accession to the European Economic Community.

None. The Treaty of Rome does not require harmonisation of laws on town and country planning.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) why there is no official translation available of Common Market Regulation No. 70/222; what he is doing to make such a translation available; and when it will be available;(2) whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT an up-to-date list of regulations affecting his Department which are not available in an authenticated translated form.

English is not yet an official language of the Community but unofficial English texts of Community instruments, including No. 70/222, are available in the Library. As regards the preparation of authentic English texts, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer he received from my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council on 17th November, 1971.—[Vol. 826, c. 154.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if the draft memorandum prepared by the Commission of the European Economic Community, addressed to the Council of Ministers, outlining a Community policy for the environment, is under consideration; and if he will indicate Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the adoption of such a scheme in the United Kingdom.

The paper is being studied in preparation for discussions with the Commission next year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the additional cost of house purchase consequent upon the imposition of value-added tax at rates harmonised with those in the European Economic Community;and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.No such estimate has been made. As the Green Paper on V.A.T. indicates, special arrangements for housing will be needed for our value-added tax. The E.E.C. directives require member States to introduce a common system of V.A.T., but the coverage and rates of V.A.T. are not yet harmonised. As a member State, we should, of course, be able to participate fully in any future discussions or decisions on harmonisation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will initiate discussions with the European Economic Community to ascertain to what extent British control of the size and type of heavy lorries entering this country from the countries of the Six will contravene the rules and regulations of the European Economic Community, and if he will publish the outcome in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

There will be no contravention of Community rules.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment on what date he received a communication from the Royal Automobile Club concerning the effects on British motorists, the motor industry and British roads of Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community; whether he will publish details of this communication in the OFFICIAL REPORT together with his reply, and state when such a reply was sent; and whether he will invite representatives of the Royal Automobile Club to discuss these problems with him.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "21st September"; the answer to the second part is "No".

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community will necessitate a change in the rule of the road to driving on the right; and what is his estimate of the cost to the economy of such a change over.

No, and therefore no estimate of cost is required.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment to what extent he expects Great Britain's entry into the Common Market will have an effect on the environmental conditions of British towns and villages due to the free entry into Great Britain from the European Economic Community of heavier, longer and larger lorries; and to what extent he will still be able to control the size of such vehicles as at present.

No. E.E.C. standards yet exist for vehicle weights and dimensions. When such standards come into operation they will be binding on member States, but local authorities will retain the freedom to impose traffic regulation orders.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment to what extent Great Britain's entry into the Common Market will necessitate the adoption of the motorway laws, rules and regulations of the countries of the Six.

To the extent that these are contained in agreed regulations and directives.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement giving the general effect of the implementation of the European Economic Community rules and regulations, European Coal and Steel Community rules and regulations E1-E1331 and any others that may fall within his ministerial responsibilities.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to establish a regional housing authority for Greater London.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the present programme to link Yorkshire and Humberside into the motorway network.

Schemes in preparation or subject to feasibility studies will, when added to the existing trunk road network and to the schemes already under way, provide high standard communications both within the region and to the rest of the country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement setting out progress being made in the re-assessment of steel box girder bridges including those in and around the City of Bristol.

Reassessment of steel box girder bridges is progressing as quickly as the very detailed procedures permit. It should be completed for the Aust and Wye Bridges in early 1972. I expect erection of the Avonmouth Bridge to recommence shortly. The Cumberland Basin Bridge is owned by the City of Bristol and is a matter for that authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to enable local authorities to collect and dispose of mercury cell hearing aid batteries in such a way as to ensure that mercury pollution hazards to health will be minimised.

When issuing replacement batteries for children's hearing aids the Post Office already collects the used batteries; and I welcome the initiative of the main manufacturer in trying to make similar arrangements for batteries bought privately. I aim to reduce as far as practicable the escape of any mercury into the environment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what target figure he has established for the building of council houses during the years 1972, 1973 and 1974, respectively.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why he has refused to assist Blyth Borough Council in regard to the proposed town centre redevelopment scheme; what alternative proposals have been suggested; and if he will make a statement.

The council's application for an additional capital allocation from the special programme for development and intermediate areas related solely to the purchase of land and thus did not satisfy the conditions of that programme. The redevelopment scheme is eligible for consideration within the county area arrangements for locally determined schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking in view of the rise of 17 points during the latest 12-month period in the endex of average prices of new private houses prepared by his Department.

The most effective way of restraining the rise in house prices is to increase the number of houses available for sale, and the Government's policies are doing just this. The number of new houses for private owners started in the third quarter of this year was 11,000 more than in the same period last year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the effect on new house prices of the reduction in selective employment tax.

It is estimated that the reduction in selective employment tax has resulted in a decrease of between 1 and 2 per cent. in building costs for new houses, but it is not possible to isolate the effect of the tax cut from the other factors influencing house prices.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the increased amount in the average price of new private houses in the Northern Region for the latest 12-month period.

The average price of new private houses in the three northern regions of England mortgaged with building societies is estimated to have been £4,530 in the 12 months ending in September, 1971, compared with £4,230 in the previous 12 months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish his Manual for Assistance to Pedestrians.

Next summer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in view of the statement in Fair Deal for Housing that the Government will take the earliest legislative opportunity to propose increases in the maximum penalties for harassment and illegal eviction, whether he proposes to introduce legislation to this effect before 31st December, 1971.

I reiterate the Government's intention to act on this at the first legislative opportunity, but I cannot yet give any indication as to timing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what instructions he has issued that certain fog warnings be removed from the M6 in Staffordshire; and whether he will make a statement.

I am increasing the spacing of the flashing amber light signals from one mile to two miles on motorways generally to release equipment for motorways opening in the next few months. As regards M6 in Staffordshire, I am considering representations from the county council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to arrange equal sharing of costs between railways and highway authorities for bridges and level crossings.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what evaluation he has made of the effectiveness of his campaign in the north-east of England between 23rd August and 3rd October, 1971 to encourage car drivers to use safety belts.

After the recent publicity campaign in the North-East the proportion of front seat car occupants wearing seat belts was about 28 per cent.—double the level before the campaign.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to introduce legislation to give grants towards the cost of new buses, and if he will describe such legislation, in view of the uncertainty thereon which is causing bus companies to defer orders for buses.

The powers already exist under Section 32 of the Transport Act, 1968. The rate of grant on approved capital expenditure has recently been increased to 50 per cent. and the duration of the scheme to 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to announce his decision with regard to the line of the proposed bypass and new Bridge at St. Ives, Huntingdonshire.

What my right hon. Friend has to decide at this stage is not the line of the bypass but what course he and the highway authority should follow to ensure that possible alternatives to the original line are properly considered. I expect my Department to be in touch with the county council in a week or two on this.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what local authorities he consulted outside the West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority before his decision on a grant for the North Warwickshire railway line; when these consultations took place; and whether these local authorities indicated their willingness to make a financial contribution to the cost of retaining the line.

I understand that in 1969 the Passenger Transport Executive consulted the local authorities within whose area the line runs, and that only one was then prepared to make any contribution. Since then my Department has received representations from some of these local authorities, but no further offers of financial help.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is willing to give a grant to British Rail in order to retain the North Warwickshire line in view of the fact that the West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority has now decided that the line merits its financial support; what estimate he has made of the loss made by the line; when this estimate was made; and whether the estimate takes into account the revenue received from the increased use of the line for freight services.

The Railways Board made its estimate of the deficit for 1972 this month. Taking freight traffic into account, the board expects this to be about £340,000.My Department is now discussing the question of grant with the Passenger Transport Executive.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he considered the fact that the North Warwickshire railway line serves an area outside the West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority before he decided whether he would make a grant to the line; and what proportion of the cost of retaining the line he has estimated to be due to this part of the line.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "Yes". The hypothetical allocation requested in the second part has not been calculated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has completed his consideration on the question of the installation of lighting on all motorways and trunk roads; and whether he will make a statement.

I am at present considering the case for lighting motorways. For trunk roads I see no justification for departing from my present policy of installing lighting on a priority system on the estimated saving in night accidents.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has held with the Liverpool City Council about their plans for solving the housing problem in Liverpool; and what was their outcome.

My right hon. Friend visited Liverpool in June and he and I have met the leader of Liverpool City Council on a number of occasions to discuss a wide variety of subjects. The regional office of the Department is regularly in touch with Liverpool City Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he proposes to take to warn owners of land of the expiry of certain planning permissions on 1st April, 1972, under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1968.

I am issuing shortly copies of a poster for display by local authorities in appropriate places reminding the public that outline planning permissions granted before 1st April, 1969, will in general lapse on 1st April, 1972; application for approval of reserve matters or for renewal of permission should be made by that date. The attention of the Press will be drawn to this.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he plans by legislation to limit lead additives in petrol.

I will be making an announcement in the near future of what further controls over atmospheric pollution by motor vehicles I consider necessary. I am paying particularly close attention to the use of lead additives in fuel.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will permit the use of Horse Guards Parade for the parking of coaches.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will specify the nature of the special assistance which he proposes to offer the London Borough of Islington in respect of its housing difficulties.

Islington, with its severe housing problems, should get substantial aid under the new housing finance arrangements by way of increased subsidies. In addition, the recent increase in the London regional yardstick will have the effect of increasing the subsidisable limit on its building schemes by about 11 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to bring into operation Section 32 of the Transport (London) Act 1969, allowing the Greater London Council to assume responsibility for the authorisation of pedestrian crossings in the Greater London area.

My right hon. Friend hopes to bring this into force on 1st April, 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to give a decision on the list of urban and inter-urban schemes submitted to him by Durham County Council in connection with the extension to the Principal Roads Preparation List.

I hope to announce the details of the £500–£600 million next instalment of the principal roads preparation list early next year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce a Bill to ensure that a new planning application must be submitted for the re-opening of mineral workings where extraction has not taken place for three or more years.

The local authority associations recently represented that the exercise of planning control over mineral workings presented difficulties in this and other respects. I will be discussing these matters with the associations and thereafter as necessary with the minerals industry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take steps to make mineral exploration subject to planning permission, in view of the damage it can do to the environment, especially in areas designated as of outstanding natural beauty.

Those types of exploration which may cause damage to the environment would normally be of such a nature as to constitute development and would need planning permission.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the sum of money to be made available by the Government to the London Borough of Lewisham as a result of his announcement that the Council can spend 50 per cent. more than the Government controlled allowance on housing.

The recent increase in the London regional yardstick variation will have the effect of increasing the subsidisable limit on schemes undertaken by Lewisham by about 11 per cent. The additional subsidy payable as a result of this increase depends on the number and size of schemes put to tender and will also be affected by the new housing finance arrangements. It is not possible to give a precise estimate of the sum involved at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many houses will have to be cleared annually to fulfil his recent estimate that all the slums can be removed by 1980.

Considerably more than in recent years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received for the provision of a Community and Sports Complex beneath the M1, M5, M6 motorway link road where it crosses Beeches Road, Perry Barr, Birmingham.

I am keen to see that the very best use is made of the space beneath elevated motorways for sport and other activities. Discussions about this particular scheme are being held by my Department with the Birmingham Corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he proposes to alter the income limits for the rate rebate scheme to take account of the recent increase in pensions and other benefits; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. My right hon. Friend proposes shortly to lay before Parliament a draft Order under paragraph 14 of Schedule 9 to the General Rate Act, 1967, increasing with effect from 1st April, 1972, the income limits for entitlement to rate rebates to £12 a week for a single person and to £14·75 a week for a married couple. The dependent child's addition will be increased at the same time to £2·50.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set up passenger transport authorities in areas other than large conurbations.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will leave water supply and sewage disposal undertakings under the control of local government.

My right hon. Friend intends to make an announcement on the future organisation of water services very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why the report of the Whitehall Public Inquiry, which was submitted to the Secretary of State for the Environment a year ago, has not yet been published.

The report raised many complex issues. It will be published when I am in a position to make a statement on it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is aware of the danger to motorists on the newly opened stretch of the M4 motorway at Swindon due to the shortage of emergency telephone facilities, and if he will take urgent action to remedy the situation.

Owing to the shortage of equipment, telephones are, for the time being, two miles apart instead of the usual one mile. More equipment is on order.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has received a protest from the London Borough of Wandsworth about pollution of the environment by non-returnable containers; and what action he proposes to take to assist local authorities to cope with the problem.

The London Borough of Wandsworth wrote to the Department of the Environment on 5th November drawing attention to the increasing use of non-returnable containers of all types, but particularly drink containers made of plastic or tin, and the effect on the litter collection and refuse collection and disposal services of local authorities. Proper disposal of used drink containers to dustbins and litter bins does not constitute a threat of pollution of the environment, but consideration is being given to the problems arising from the growth of various forms of packaging in the light of the comments of the Working Party on Refuse Disposal. In this connection, I would refer to the reply given to the hon. Member for Wood Green (Mrs. Joyce Butler) on 16th November, 1971.—[Vol. 826, c. 118.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to seek to increase the powers of enforcement of the control of foreign goods vehicles entering the United Kingdom.

A Bill seeking to secure the effective enforcement of existing road traffic laws on foreign commercial vehicles has been introduced in another place.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those local authorities which are not selling council houses.

I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to introduce statutory limitations on the noise output of machinery.

I am consulting interested bodies about the recommendations on this and related matters in the recently published report of a working group of the Noise Advisory Council on "Neighbourhood Noise".

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information is available in his Department as to the average difference in rent and rates per square foot of new office space in the central areas of London, Liverpool and Manchester, respectively.Mr. Channon The average difference between central areas of London, other than the City of London, and Liverpool and Manchester is approximately £5·35 for rent and 85p for rates, and £5·10 for rent and 60p for rates, per square foot respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will be in a position to announce the proposed route of the Bridport bypass.

Early in 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the basic weekly rates of pay for Custodians of the Palace of Westminster, the current rates of overtime and the total amount of back pay on overtime now owed by his Department; and if he is satisfied with the efficiency of the current payment procedures.

Custodians are paid on an annual salary scale of £1,144–£1,212 and senior custodians on the scale £1,292–£1,336. Overtime rates vary from 65p to 76p per hour. I am satisfied that the payment of arrears of overtime, which total about £1,700, is being given proper priority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will state the number of applications for building permission made to local planning authorities, and the number of such applications which have been refused for the years 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970 and 1971 to the nearest convenient date;(2) if he will state the number of applications for building permission received by local planning authorities in respect of individual dwellings for the years 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1971 to the nearest convenient date; how many such applications were refused; and how many appeals have been made to him in respect of such refusals.

Information in the precise form requested is not available. Statistics of planning applications and appeals decided are published annually in the Handbook of Statistics (Local Government, Housing and Planning) and, in respect of planning applications for 1970, in the Statistics for Town and Country Planning (Series 1, Planning decisions). These publications are in the Library of the House. Statistics for 1971 are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many appeals have been adjudicated upon by his Department for the years 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970 and 1971 to the nearest convenient date, either by written representations or by public inquiry; and how many such appeals were refused.

The information relating to appeals under Section 23 of the Town and Country Planning Act. 1962, is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of appeals against local planning decisions referred to him and his predecessors in the years 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1971 to the nearest convenient date, the number resolved on the basis of written representations, the total cost incurred by his Department each year of consequent action taken necessitated by all appeals, and the total cost incurred by the local planning authorities.

The information relating to appeals under Section 23 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1962, is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average period of time taken to hear appeals by the inquiry procedure and what were the number of occasions when the time lag between the hearing of the appeal and the issuing of the inspector's report has exceeded nine months and 12 months, respectively, the number of such appeals now outstanding, and the time he estimates it will take to hear such outstanding appeals.

The average periods are currently 43 weeks for planning appeals decided by the Secretary of State and 31 weeks for those transferred to inspectors. I will write to the hon. Member about the information requested in the second part of the Question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a progress report on the consideration by his Department of the proposals for a shopping precinct in Commercial Road, Portsmouth.

The council was asked on 11th November to hold a public inquiry into the proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied that there is no abuse of the discretionary grant scheme, as applied to holiday property used for commercial lettings; and if he will make a statement.

Local authorities approve applications for discretionary grants on their merits. My right hon. Friend has no proposals to introduce restrictive conditions which could slow down the rate of house improvement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a detailed statement giving as much information as may be available of rents in general, and council rents in particular, showing the average rent charged separately for one, two, three, and four bedroomed houses and flats, respectively, in each of the major British cities and on a national average; and whether he will obtain and publish similar details for each of the countries in the European Economic Community.

Information on council rents is already published in the annual "Housing Statistics" of the Institute of Municipal Treasurers and Accountants. Information on regulated registered rents in the private sector is given from time to time in the quarterly "Housing Statistics, Great Britain". Copies of both these publications are available in the Library. Similar information for E.E.C. countries cannot be obtained at reasonable expense.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether a decision has been reached on the future of the National Building Agency.

The Government have concluded that the National Building Agency still has a valuable contribution to make in housing and construction. They have decided, however, that the agency should operate on a self-supporting basis, and the annual grant will be phased out by 1st April, 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the consultations on preparing a code of practice on safe loading to be completed; and when he expects to be able to present the code for publication.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Leominster (Sir Clive Bossom) on 10th November.—[Vol. 825, c. 159.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many prosecutions for causing danger by reason of load, weight distribution, packing or adjustment were initiated in the year 1970 as a result of road safety spot checks by his Department's traffic examiners; and how many of the prosecutions were successful.

I regret that the information is not available in the form requested. In 1970 2,733 prosecutions were brought for overloading offences; over 90 per cent. were successful.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps are being taken by his Department in connection with the development of a motor vehicle front windscreen which will offer little resistance to the impact of a person inside the car in the event of accident.

None. Toughened safety glass, with which the majority of British cars are equipped, minimises the force of impact.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps are being taken by his Department in connection with the problem of the shattering of motor vehicle front windscreens as a result of resonance set up by the road surface.

I know of no evidence to suggest that such resonance is a factor in damage to windscreens.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what estimate he has made of the rise in the number of accidents caused by loose material on roads over the period from 1960 to 1970;(2) what estimate he has made of the rise in the number of accidents caused by material falling from lorries over the period from 1960 to 1970.

Estimates are not available since the relevant information is not specified in the accident reports.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has yet decided on the siting at Peterlee of the centre for transport and land use studies; and if he will make a statement.

No decision has yet been taken to set up such a centre but Peterlee will, of course, be considered if it is decided to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what further steps he is taking to improve communications between the mainland of Scotland and her off-shore islands.

My responsibility is confined to sea transport services operated by subsidiaries of the Scottish Transport Group and by private operators subsidised by the Government. With the assistance of substantial Government grants for terminals, modern roll on-roll off services are being progressively introduced, to the benefit of the island communities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what licences he is issuing for prospecting for minerals in the Highlands of Scotland; and what licences have been issued and to whom.

Mineral prospecting is not subject to licensing procedure.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will detail in the OFFICIAL REPORT which authorities in Scotland have complied with Section 25 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970.

Scottish education authorities make use of the provision at Condover Hall School for the Blind, Shrewsbury, for the very small number of children in Scotland who suffer the dual handicap of blindness and deafness.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will detail in the OFFICIAL REPORT which authorities in Scotland have complied with Section 26 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970.

Education authorities are aware of the problem of identifying and diagnosing children with autistic symptoms, and are seeking to tackle it. Specific provision for autistic children is still at an early stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will detail in the OFFICIAL REPORT which authorities in Scotland have complied with Section 27 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970.

Remedial education for children with reading difficulties is provided in all areas. Specific difficulties are treated by the child guidance clinics.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many local authority day nurseries have been opened in Scotland; and if he will give the areas where no day nurseries have been provided.

At 31st December, 1970, there were 72 day nurseries in Scotland run by 18 local authorities. Provision for young children is also made in nursery schools and pre-school playgroups. No day nurseries had then been provided by the following local authorities, but in some of these areas day nurseries were provided by voluntary organisations and private individuals:—

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration he has given to the plans submitted to him for the rehabilitation of Gartsherrie Site, Coatbridge, for the purpose of attracting new industries; and if he will give details of acres of land involved, the cost, and the grant which this project will attract.

No such plans have been submitted to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now give the date on which he will announce his decision on the proposals of the Crofters Commission on owner-occupation of crofts.

Consultations with interested organisations are not yet complete. I hope to announce my decision as soon as possible thereafter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much of the additional £118 million to be devoted to development of health and social work services is being made available in Scotland.

£12 million over the next four years. This is additional to the £11 million which I was able to announce in the House last November.About £7½ million will be made available to the health service, primarily for improvement of hospital facilities, especially those for the elderly and mentally disordered. I am making provision also to meet expenditure arising out of the reorganisation of the National Health Service.About £4½ million of the additional provision is intended for further development of social work services. This will enable the local authorities to increase by £3½ million their building programmes of residential homes and day centres for the elderly, the mentally disordered, the physically disabled, children in care and others in need of help. The balance will be available for further development in social work services, including increased staffing and additional assistance towards services provided by voluntary bodies. I have just asked the local authorities to let me know, after consultation with voluntary bodies and other agencies, of their proposals for the development of the social work services over the next six years.

asked the Lord Advocate if he will list the capital offences still in existence in Scotland.

Treason, and certain offences under the Army Act, 1955, the Air Force Act, 1955 and the Naval Discipline Act, 1957, as amended by the Armed Forces Act, 1971.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what employment prospects for future school-leavers he anticipates within the Post Office Giro service.

That is a matter for the Post Office to consider in the light of the statement I made to the House on 17th November.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will give a general direction to the Post Office to improve the availability of Continental and North American telephone directories in the United Kingdom.

No. A general direction would not be appropriate. It would be uneconomic for the Post Office to maintain stocks of all the many foreign telephone directories but any directory will, subject to availability from abroad, be sold by the Post Office either on an occasional or standing order basis. Page 432 of the current issue of the Post Office Guide tells subscribers how to obtain foreign directories from their telephone manager. The more popular directories are obtained regularly for public reference libraries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give an assurance that the ban on night time take-offs from Heathrow Airport is not part of a general policy designed ultimately to transfer the noise nuisance to Essex and Kent by concentrating night flights at the proposed Foulness Airport.

The ban on summer jet take-offs at night from Heathrow is intended to give immediate relief to an area where the noise problem is at its worst. Foulness is unlikely to be operational before 1980 and the regime for night flying there can be determined nearer this date.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is aware that in the Newark constituency Messrs. Ransome Hoffman and Pollard, ball-bearing manufacturers, have sacked over 300 employees, that Messrs. Worthington Simpson have several hundred employees on short time and that Messrs. W. and J. B. Eastwood's poultry packing station has sacked 60 workers; and what action he proposes to ensure full employment in the area following the representations of the hon. Member for Newark.

I am well aware that the loss of these jobs and the short-term working are serious matters for Newark. The Government have taken an unprecedented series of measures to expand the economy, and, as these take effect, I would expect Newark to share in the greater employment that should follow.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he is taking in view of the increasing disregard of the regulations governing affinity group charter flights.

This country has not been alone in finding it difficult to police these rules by traditional methods. None the less, the widespread abuse that has taken place this year cannot be allowed to continue and the Government are determined to bring the situation under control. To this end, provision has been made in Section 26 of the Civil Aviation Act, 1971, for the licensing of air travel organisers, and arrangements for this will be introduced as soon as possible after the Civil Aviation Authority comes into operation next spring.A major obstacle to effective control is the fact that the class of air service licence, known as an E licence, under which affinity groups are usually carried is of a general character and does not provide for the prior scrutiny of the groups. The Air Transport Licensing Board has now decided to add a condition to these licences to be issued for 1972 under which the airlines will be required to submit, three months in advance, particulars of all the groups they propose to carry between points more than 2,250 miles apart. The Air Transport Licensing Board will then ask the airlines to apply for specific licences in respect of any groups about whose qualification the Board is in doubt so that any such case may be fully examined. The carriage of such a group under an E licence would be regarded by the Board as ground for considering revocation of that licence.My Department will assist the Air Transport Licensing Board in the scrutiny of groups. I am also increasing the number of investigating officers available to conduct spot chacks. An airline which breaches the rules will risk prosecution as well as the loss of its E licence.In parallel with these measures, I have been reviewing the regulations to see whether a new type of charter travel might be introduced that could be made available to the public at large without those features of the affinity group rules