asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many applications for the 75 per cent. house improvement grants have been received up to the latest available date.

5,240 up to 31st December, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he is aware that two operating theatres completed in 1968 at the Royal Gwent Hospital lack refrigeration plant and suffer temperatures up to 96 deg. Fahrenheit and that no assurance exists that the seven remaining theatres to be completed under the Phase V building scheme will have cooling plant; and whether, to avoid reduction of the work load and enable operations to be performed in proper conditions, he will ensure that cooling plants are installed.

The Welsh Hospital Board proposes that all nine main operating theatres will be fitted with cooling plant on completion of Phase V of the redevelopment of the hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what consideration has been given to the establishment of a Geo-Technical Research Centre in Wales where laboratory and research could be carried out into landslides.

I am aware of an article in a newspaper which included a suggestion of this character. While I do not at present think that an arrangement of such a kind is necessary, I should be happy to discuss this matter further with the hon. Member if he so wishes.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what subjects were discussed at the last meeting of the Welsh Council.

I understand that the council discussed a wide range of economic, social and environmental questions.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he will publish the draft order for the Carmarthen southern bypass.

Work is continuing, but I cannot say precisely when it will be possible to publish the draft order.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the amount spent by each of the appropriate local authorities in rank order per 100 disabled people in 1965–66, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70, and 1970–71.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what further consideration he has given to the constitution of the proposed Welsh Water Authority; and if he will make a statement.

It is not proposed to reach a decision on the constitution of the Welsh National Water Development Authority until account can be taken of the findings of the Commission on the Constitution.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will site the offices of the new Welsh Water Authority in Mid-Wales, in view of the importance of the Mid-Wales area in the provision of water resources.

I trust that the Welsh National Water Development Authority will have its headquarters in one of the smaller towns of Wales but it is too early to be more precise.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will seek to arrange a meeting of local authorities in Mon-mouthshire for discussions about the source, incidence and implications of heavy metal pollution on the Bristol Channel coast and hinterland.

I will bear this suggestion in mind when I receive the results of the study into heavy metal pollution which I announced on 23rd November, 1971. In the meantime my Department is available to advise local authorities on pollution problems.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will examine the feasibility of establishing a permanent system of testing for heavy metal contamination in the atmosphere and earth of South-East Wales.

I will consider the hon. Member's suggestion in the light of the results of the study into heavy metal pollution which I announced on 23rd November, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the effect of the national emergency on industrial activity in East Flintshire, in particular on steel, textiles, aerospace and brickmaking.

I understand that on 18th February about 1,400 workers were laid off in the area served by the Shotton group of employment exchanges, about 500 of them in the textile industry. I am not aware that the brickmaking, steel or aerospace industries in the area laid off employees last week.

COST OF LEGAL AID
Year		Legal Aid in Civil Proceedings	Legal Aid for Civil Claims	Legal Advice	Legal Aid in Criminal Proceedings
		£	£	£	£
1966–67	…	3,682,028	6,764	121,096	2,719,351
1967–68	…	4,154,576	6,624	143,844	3,446,961
1968–69	…	5,014,594	6,407	155,155	4,266,819
1969–70	…	5,748,772	4,514	170,583	5,877,368
1970–71	…	6,249,432	5,753	274,014	8,065,593
NOTE: The amounts shown give the total cost in payments to solicitors and counsel and for disbursements. The administrative costs of legal aid in civil proceedings, legal aid for claims and legal advice and for taxation of costs of legal aid in criminal proceedings in the magistrates' courts are borne out of the Legal Aid Fund and cannot be separated to show the cost for the four services. The remaining administrative cost of criminal legal aid is included in the administrative costs of the courts concerned and cannot be extracted.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales by how much, approximately, total expenditure on the National Health Service in Wales will increase in each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

Estimates of public expenditure on health and personal social services in Wales are as follows:

£ million at 1971 Survey Prices
1971–72	1972–73	1973–74	1974–75	1975–76
124·8	130·5	133·5	137·0	144·0

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he now expects to receive the Bowen Report on bilingual signs; and whether he intends to publish it.

The committee is pursuing its work with all speed but cannot yet give a firm date for the submission of its report. The report will be published.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will now announce the Government's proposals to amend and improve the situation in the development areas.

The Government's measures are set out in the pamphlet "Incentives for Industry", which was sent to the right hon. Member before Christmas. As to future measures, I would refer the right hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend gave to a supplementary question by the hon. Member for Chesterfield (Mr. Varley) on 7th February.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to examine the reasons underlying the closing down and movement out of West Middlesex of a variety of industrial firms.

The firms concerned usually make known the reasons for their decisions. These differ considerably from case to case and I do not consider that a general study would serve any useful purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement concerning changes in the statutory inquiry procedure following deaths at sea, with special reference to the circumstances surrounding the loss at sea of Jeffrey Keith Wills of the liner "Northern Star" on 17th August, 1970.

We are looking into the possibility of improving the present procedure. However, whatever changes may be made, it will continue to be difficult in cases where a person disappears at sea unseen, as happened to Jeffrey Keith Wills, to establish the full facts.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the annual value of Scotch whisky exports during the 25 years ended in 1971.

Exports of whisky rose from £14 million in 1947 to £227 million in 1971. The figures relate to Scotch and Northern Irish whisky; those for the years 1947 to 1970 are published in the Annual Statement of Trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much steel-making scrap was imported from the United States of America in each of the three months, November and December, 1971, and January, 1972; what was the average import price per ton; how much of the same quality scrap was available in the United Kingdom and offered to the British Steel Corporation; and what were comparable prices of domestic supplies.

None in November, 1971; 6,285 tons in December at an average c.i.f. price of £24·64 per ton under arrangements made about a year previously; and for January, 1972, details of imports are not yet available. About 12,000–14,000 tons a week of compressed unused steel sheet cuttings, which is a comparable material of high quality, are currently available in the United Kingdom and all are taken by the steel industry. The prices paid are a commercial matter for the industry and the trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what amount of grants to the machine tool industry has been spent on imported products; and what percentage this represents.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further discussions he has had with prospective purchasers of the Clydebank yard of Upper Clyde Shipbuilders Limited.

My Department has been in contact with a number of companies who have expressed an interest in this yard and has given them details of the financial assistance which might be available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a detailed statement on his reasons why metric and imperial measures should be sold in separate bars in licensed premises as set out in the White Paper on Metrication, Command Paper No. 4880.

If measures from both ranges were permitted in the same bar for the same drinks customers might, especially late in the evening, become confused about which measure was being sold.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will require the Metrication Board to consult with the Licensed Victuallers' Association and consumer interests before introducing legislation dividing licensed premises into bars in which only metric or only Imperial measures may be supplied.

The responsibility is ours, not that of the Metrication Board. We shall certainly consult the Licensed Victuallers' Association and consumer interests before finalising plans, but the decision whether a bar should be imperial or metric is one for the licensee to take.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, in the light of the difficulties that arose over the RB211 contract of Rolls-Royce Limited, what arrangements he has made for improving the technical and financial advice available to his Department.

I have been reviewing the lessons to be learned from RB211 in order to ensure that the best technical and financial advice is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his latest assessment of the investment spent on the North Sea oil fields.

Companies are not required to report their investment expenditure, but so far 47 wells have been drilled by United Kingdom licensees in the northern basin of the North Sea. Such wells may cost between £500,000 and £2 million each.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications he has received from the Central Electricity Generating Board for the installation of gas turbine plants to be built in this country; what is the size of the plants in megawatts; and what are the areas in which they are to be built.

Six. Three were granted last year for Watford and Letchworth 150 mw each and Ocker Hill (West Bromwich) 300 mw. Three are under consideration for Bull's Bridge (Hillingdon and Ealing) 300 mw, Taylor's Lane (Willesdon) 150 mw, and Leicester 150 mw.

FUEL BURNED BY CENTRAL ELECTRICITY GENERATING BOARD
(Million tons of coal equivalent)
Year		Coal	Coke and Coke Breeze	Oil	Nuclear	Other (including natural gas)	Total
1962	…	55·3	0·9	9·4 [5·5]	0·3	—	65·9
1963	…	60·9	0·7	8·2 [4·8]	1·2	—	71·0
1964	…	62·5	0·7	9·0 [5·3]	1·4	—	73·6
1965	…	63·8	0·4	9·9 [5·8]	3·7	—	77·8
1966	…	62·6	0·5	10·7 [6·3]	5·5	—	79·3
1967	…	62·0	0·6	10·4 [6·1]	6·7	*	79·7
1968	…	67·1	0·4	8·8 [5·2]	7·7	*	84·0
1969	…	68·9	0·2	11·6 [6·8]	8·0	*	88·7
1970	…	69·4	0·1	17·5 [10·3]	6·8	0·1	93·9
1971	…	65·0	0·1	20·1 [11·8]	7·2	0·6	93·0
* Less than 50,000 tons.
[ ] = Million tons of oil

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will now take steps to change the industrial development certificate system to enable industrial development and improvement in the Black Country to take place without restrictions, in view of the effect on the overall employment position of the present restrictions, as shown by the latest unemployment figures in the Walsall, North, and Wednesbury constituencies.

The industrial development certificate system is already operated flexibly to take account of changing levels of employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many industrial development certificate applications have been made in Bristol in the last three years; and how many have been granted.

142 I.D.C. applications have been approved and one refused.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what replies he has sent to organisations seeking a relaxation of industrial development certificate policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the amount of oil in tons consumed by the Central Electricity Generating Board power stations during each of the past 10 years.

The full details of C.E.G.B. fuel burned are:

Their representations have been acknowledged and are carefully considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many persons were thrown out of work in Barrow-in-Furness in the week commencing Sunday, 13th February, solely as a result of the failure of the North-Western Divisional Office of his Department to consult with companies regarding the best means of reducing by 50 per cent. the industrial electrical consumption.

The electricity crisis affected some 9,500 workers in Barrow last week. I am afraid the nature of the electricity supply system does not allow tailor-made arrangement for every firm in the country.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will answer the letter from Messrs. Whitney and Westley Limited of Burton Latimer, Northamptonshire, dated 14th February, on the particular problems the firm faces under the emergency regulations in relation to its exports.

A reply was sent on 16th February. Much as I regret a loss of export and other business, in the present grave situation, this is inescapable.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the liability likely to fall on the Export Credits Guarantee Department from the partial default by Ghana on her debts to United Kingdom companies.

The recent statement by the Chairman of Ghana's National Redemption Council about future payment of Ghana's external debt could involve E.C.G.D. in the payment of further claims amounting to £42 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what has been the total of United Kingdom imports from Ghana in each of the past five years; and what have been the principal items;(2) what has been the total of United Kingdom exports to Ghana in each of the past five years; and what have been the principal items.

Figures for total imports and exports for the years 1967 to 1970 are published in tables 274 and 275 respectively of the Annual Abstract of Statistics 1971. For 1971 figures of imports and exports in total and by Division are given in Tables II and V respectively of the December, 1971, issue of the Overseas Trade Statistics.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimates he has of the amount of trade credit at present owed by Ghana to business in the United Kingdom, of the arrears in payment, and of the liabilities of the Export Credits-Guarantee Department in this respect.

The amount owed by Ghana in respect of export credit insured with the Export Credits Guarantee Department is some £76 million. This includes medium-term credits which have already been rescheduled, and on these an additional £10 million is owed in moratorium interest.Firm information about outstanding credit not insured with the Department is not available but I understand that £15 million-£20 million represents the likely order of magnitude.All these totals include credit payments which have already been rescheduled. payments which have yet to fall due, and arrears in payment. The arrears now stand at some £11 million for insured credits and an estimated £6 million or so for uninsured.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he has taken or proposed to bring about an expansion of trade between the United Kingdom and Ghana, including the development of the United Kingdom market for Ghana timber, tobacco and manufactured goods.

Our exports to Ghana have been increasing. It is primarily for Ghanaian exporters to decide how to produce goods suitable for the United Kingdom market.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals he now has to reduce unemployment during the next twelve months; what review he has made of the problem in the Northern Region; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for St. Marylebone (Mr. Kenneth Baker) on 17th January.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals he has to encourage development of metal manufacture, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and construction industry in Wales.

The extensive measures taken by the Government in the assisted areas provide encouragement for investment in these industries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he proposes to refer the matter of tariffs on ferry services between England and France to the Restrictive Practices Court.

Tariffs on ferry services do not come within the jurisdiction of the Court, as the restrictive practices legislation does not at present apply to services.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received about the price, printing and structural layout of recent issues of United Kingdom trade statistics; and what steps he proposes to take to improve this production in future.

Few representations have been received about the Overseas Trade Statistics since its publication in its present form in 1970. The increase in information it provides was generally welcomed. I have no plans for its revision at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the standardisation of tariffs on ferry services between England and France is permitted under European Economic Community regulations.

There are no E.E.C. regulations applying to shipping services between England and France.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what negotiations he has had with the European Economic Community to treat the imperial pint measure on licensed premises as a special exemption to the Directive 71/354/EEC of October, 1971, requiring standardised metric measures in member countries.

The outcome of the negotiations which have been held with the E.E.C. on this directive is summarised in the White Paper on Metrication (Cmnd. 4880). The future use of the pint in licensed premises is among the questions which will be reviewed in accordance with the procedures outlined in paragraph 31.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what advance factories built in Wales are now untenanted; and how many have been authorised but not yet built, giving dates of each authorisation.

The details are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what sites have been selected for advance factory building in the Welsh Development Area during the next 12 months.

Building of advance factories already authorised by the Department is expected to start at Abercarn—2 factories—Bargoed, Ebbw Vale and Merthyr Tydvil. The Development Commission expects work to start on a factory at Cardigan.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) whether his Department is conducting the review of the law affecting credit unions with a view to making proposals on its amendment as suggested in the report of the Crowther Committee on Consumer Credit;(2) whether he will consider referring the law affecting credit unions to the Law Commission in order that it can be amended as suggested by the Crowther Committee on Consumer Credit.

We are considering the proposals of the Crowther Committee on Consumer Credit for fundamental reform of the law on consumer credit as a whole. Legislation giving effect to them would need to take account of the activities of credit unions and could affect them. Until decisions have been taken on this major legislation, it will not be appropriate to consider in detail the need for amendment of, or addition to, the law relating specifically to credit unions.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what increases have recently been approved in landing fees and other charges at Heathrow and other London airports; and what action he took to minimise them.

I am sending the hon. Member a summary of these changes. They will increase the Authority's revenue from this source by about 8 per cent. This is the first material increase for four years and I have seen no reason to object to the level proposed.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what representations have been made to him by the British Interplanetary Society regarding the merging of the European Launcher Development Organisation and the European Space Research Organisation into a single European space authority and the negotiation of viable international programmes in conjunction with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; and what reply he has sent;(2) what representations have been made to him by the British Interplanetary Society regarding United Kingdom collaboration in the United States post-Apollo space programme in relation to the development of a re-usable space shuttle to reduce launching costs; and what reply he has sent.

No formal representations have been made to my right hon. Friend, but I have seen a copy of the Society's Press Release of 1st February, 1972, and have taken note of the Society's views.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his policy with regard to further space shuttle work in relation to Hawker Siddeley, the British Aircraft Corporation and other United Kingdom firms in collaboration with North American Rockwell, and McDonnell Douglas and Grumman and other firms of the United States of America and in relation to European countries.

Studies of the space shuttle project by Hawker Siddeley and the British Aircraft Corporation in collaboration with United States' industry are being supported by the Department. We have also contributed to "post-Apollo" studies, carried out under the auspices of the European Space Conference. We are participating in discussions with our Conference partners and, jointly with them, with the United States authorities preparatory to arriving at a decision later on this year on European participation in the post-Apollo programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total value of the imports in each of the last three years of electronics and communication systems.

Full details of all the information requested by the hon. Member are given in the appropriate tables of "U.K. Overseas Trade in Electronic and Telecommunication Equipment 1971", a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House of Commons and another copy of which has been sent direct to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from industrial concerns contemplating applications for assistance under the Industrial and Building Grants Act, 1971, that there should be a uniform 40 per cent. rate of building grant for all expansion in special development areas.

None, that can be traced.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he proposes to announce the result of his public inquiry into the proposed nuclear power station at Connah's Quay, Flint-shire.

The report of the Inspectors who held the public inquiry has now been received and my right hon. Friend is considering it in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales. I cannot say when a decision on the Board's application will be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he now proposes to make a statement on the British Steel Corporation's plans for the Dee Estuary.

The Corporation has not communicated to my right hon. Friend any plans for the Dee Estuary; as regards Shotton steelworks it is for the Corporation to announce any projects within the general programme which my right hon. Friend approves from time to time.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a detailed statement giving the actual or estimated costs to the economy due to the miners' strike, taking into account the loss of coal, loss of industrial production generally, costs of power cuts, loss of exports, costs of unemployment and welfare benefits, the closing of pits and any other costs, direct or indirect, on a stated basis.

This cannot be estimated at this stage. I will consider later whether any such statement would be possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he has taken to bring about an international commodity agreement for cocoa; and what progress has been made.

I have been asked to reply. Her Majesty's Government fully support proposals for an effective and equitable International Cocoa Agreement and have been working to this end at recent preparatory consultations between major producing and consuming countries. There are still differences of view among these countries on some important issues but a United Nations Cocoa Conference to negotiate an agreement has now been convened for 6th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will investigate the availability from European sources of cement, reinforcing steel and other essential construction materials whose supply is threatened by the miners' strike.

I have been asked to reply.I am continuing to keep the supply of construction materials under review, but I do not at present consider that such an investigation would add significantly to information already held within the industries concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the result of his study of the announcement by the Ghana Government of the unilateral repudiation of certain outstanding debts to British firms contracted while Dr. Nkrumah was President.

The matter is still under study and I can therefore say no more for the present.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Ghana Government has sought international assistance for the control of cocoa smuggling; and what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards it provision.

Her Majesty's Government have received no such request for assistance from the Government of Ghana.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has concerning the Ghana Government's efforts to increase domestic production of rice and other foodstuffs; and to what extent he takes this into account in deciding on help to be given or offered by the United Kingdom.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has concerning the progress of measures by the Ghana Government to reduce corruption and waste in the application of overseas aid; and to what extent he takes this into account in formulating his aid plans.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will call for a report from each of Her Majesty's Ambassadors and each of Her Majesty's High Commissioners of the developments projected in the countries to which they are accredited in telecommunication systems and radio and television networks, to give British manufacturers export opportunities in these fields.

No. In accordance with their standing instructions, commercial officers on the staff of all embassies and high commissions always report to the Department of Trade and Industry details of all projects in all product fields coming to their notice which could offer export opportunities for British industry. Thus, such information as Her Majesty's Ambassadors and High Commissioners have learned on developments in the fields to which the hon. Member refers is already available in the Department of Trade and Industry and has already been disseminated to British manufacturers known to be interested.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government intends taking to implement Resolution 508 of the Council of Europe Consultative Assembly, which urges that humanitarian assistance be given to Greek citizens who suffer exile; and if he will make a statement.

Her Majesty's Government have taken note of Resolution 508 of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe. They are, however, unable to support the proposal that an extraordinary fund should be set up under the auspices of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to provide for Greek citizens who have since 1967 gone to live in countries other than their own.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will commission an official history of British negotiations for entry into the European Economic Community.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will instruct Great Britain's Ambassador to the United Nations to raise as a threat to world peace the tribal pogrom in Uganda.

Her Majesty's Government have noted the recent reports of death in Uganda with concern. But these reports do not suggest that the deaths constitute a threat to world peace.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government has carried out a survey of public reaction with regard to Government spending on helping poorer countries; and with what results.

The Office of Population Censuses and Surveys last summer published the results of a survey, the field work for which was done in the winter of 1969–70. A copy is available in the Library.The survey is not a simple poll. It analyses attitudes and motives. The results show overwhelming sympathy—four-fifths of the sample—for the idea of rich countries helping poorer countries and a clear majority—over three-fifths—in favour of Britain, in particular, so helping. Public reaction to the many questions put, and put in different ways, is fully analysed. I commend the study to hon. Members who are interested.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many households he estimates, for the latest date for which information is available, comprising, respectively, a single person, married couple without children, and with one, two, three, four, five and six or more children, receive gross earnings each week on average of below £12 and below totals successively £1 greater up to £30 a week.

I have been asked to reply.I regret that information in the form requested by the hon. Member is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give a list of local authorities which offer contraceptives free to girls over 16 years of age under the National Health Service Family Planning Act, 1967.

I understand that the following local health authorities in England provide contraceptives free to residents over 16 years of age:

Camden London Borough Council, Kingston-upon-Hull County Borough Council, Lambeth London Borough Council and Lewisham London Borough Council.

In non-medical cases West Riding County Council provides free supplies to the married only. I am informed that 152 other local health authorities provide free supplies where there are medical grounds for preventing pregnancy, some of these authorities restricting their service to the married; where supplies are provided, and charged for, in non-medical cases arrangements should be made for exemption on the grounds of financial hardship.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the average waiting time in the Wolverhampton Hospital Management Committee area for patients seeking vasectomy operations under the National Health Service; and how many patients are on the waiting list;(2) what is the average waiting time in the Wolverhampton Hospital Management Committee area for those who seek vasectomy operations as private patients.

There is at present no National Health Service patient waiting for this operation. Admission of private patients depends on individual arrangements between patient and surgeon.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average waiting time in the Norwich, Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft Hospital Management Committee area for vasectomy operations under the National Health Service; and what is the average time of waiting for private patients.

The average waiting time for National Health Service patients is up to three months but varies somewhat between different consultants. Admission of private patients depends on individual arrangements made between patient and surgeon, but I understand that there is a minimum waiting time of about three weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he now has the figures as to how many vasectomies were carried out within the National Health Service in hospitals in 1970.

I regret that this information is not yet available. I hope to receive it in about six to eight weeks and I will then write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average waiting time in Sunderland Hospital Management Committee Group for sterilisation by vasectomy operation under the National Health Service; and what is the average time for private patients.

There is normally no waiting time for this operation.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish quarterly the statistics he collects concerning homelessness and applications for temporary accommodation.

I am not satisfied that these statistics are adequate or reliable and I look to the Working Party on the Greve Report for advice on the principles on which they should be revised. In these circumstances I see no advantage in more frequent publication of the existing statistics.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what changes he has decided to make in the arrangements for providing vehicles to severely disabled persons.

My Scottish and Welsh colleagues and I have just completed a review of the invalid vehicle service. As a result of this we are making changes which, although accomplished within the limits of present expenditure, together enable us to secure important improvements. In trying to make better use of the existing money it has been necessary to introduce a few savings in order to permit the improvements. The changes are:

1. Persons qualifying for a vehicle will in future be able to forgo it and receive instead an allowance of £100 per annum to run the vehicle of their own which is registered and insured in their name and which they hold a full licence to drive. These allowances will be introduced with effect from 1st April, 1972.

2. Vehicles will continue to be issued to people with some, though severely limited, walking ability if they need them to get to full-time work but on cessation of employment the vehicle will be surrendered instead of, as hitherto, left with a person permanently once he has qualified for it.

3. Future recipients of cars issued by the Department will not be required to garage them. In consequence the cash assistance accompanying the vehicle will be reduced by £25 per annum to £35 for each of the first two years after first issue of a new car, to £55 for each of the two succeeding years and to £65 per annum thereafter.

4. Future recipients of three-wheelers will not receive the £5 per annum petrol allowance.

5. Those unable to walk because of a heart or lung condition have hitherto had to show that they needed a vehicle to get to work in order to qualify fo one. This employment condition will be removed.

6. Mothers who qualify for a vehicle will be able to have a car instead of a three-wheeler if they have the care of young children. The requirement that they must be in sole charge of the children will be removed.

7. Persons living alone in their own households, whose disability is such that they would normally have to be in full-time employment in order to qualify for a vehicle, will be able to have one even if not employed if they need it to carry out their household duties.

8. Persons whose walking limitations qualify them for a vehicle and who suffer from haemophilia may have a car instead of a three-wheeler.

9. Any vehicle issued by the Department or run with the assistance of the new allowance will be exempted from vehicle excise duty with effect from 1st April.

These changes will remove a number of anomalies that have developed over the years, introduce a desirable flexibity, meet many of the requests that have received a strong measure of support and increase substantially the number of beneficiaries, notably the unemployed "heart and lung" sufferers. Altogether we hope that about 10,000 people will benefit under the new arrangements.We recognise that these changes do not solve the problem completely and we are already starting to think about possible future improvements. Before deciding the next priorities for any further help to those who are immobilised by severe disablement, we must consider the alternative ways of helping them, and the proportion of the resources that should be devoted to particular groups of severely disabled people. We shall therefore within the next few weeks invite somebody from outside the Health Departments to study the subject and give us unbiassed advice about further changes it would be useful for us to consider.We shall make it clear that the money available will be limited by competing claims on our resources. For this reason the inquiry will pay particular regard to the needs of people of working age. The resources of the Health Departments will be made available to the person conducting this inquiry, who will be asked to receive evidence from responsible bodies concerned with disablement and I will ask for this work to be completed within a year. In due course I will inform the House of the main features of the advice received and the Government's intentions regarding it.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many of those who are currently in receipt of reduced supplementary benefits as a result of the wage-stop have had the benefits reduced by less than 50p, 50p and less than £1, £1 and less than £2, £2 and less than £3, £3 and less than £4, and £4 and more, respectively;(2) how many of those whose supplementary benefit is now wage-stopped are on the Register of Disabled Persons.

I regret that this information is not yet available. The figures for November, 1971, will be available at the end of March and I shall write to the hon. Member then.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many of those who had their supplementary benefits reduced through the wage-stop have had them increased as a result of family income supplement.

The latest figures available are based on a 2½ per cent. sample taken on 22nd September, 1971.The number of claimants then whose supplementary benefit had been increased as a result of the introduction of the Family Income Supplement Scheme was 25,000. This figure includes those whose supplementary benefit was not wage-stopped but would have been but for their entitlement to family income supplement.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many of those in receipt of supplementary benefit are having it wage-stopped at the wage rates set by the National Joint Council for Local Authority Rural Workers; and how many of these are wage-stopped at the London and outside London labourers' rate, respectively.

In November, 1971, there were 13,500 persons whose supplementary benefit was wage-stopped at the rates of wages laid down by the National Joint Council for Local Authorities Services (Manual Workers). It is not known how this figure is divided between London and elsewhere.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons in receipt of supplementary benefit are currently in receipt of reduced benefit through the working of the wage-stop.

In November, 1971, the latest date for which figures are known, the figure was 21,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the amount spent by each London borough under Section I of the Children and Young Persons Act, 1963, in each year since the Act was enforced.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 22nd April, 1971.—[Vol. 815, c. 437–444.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many of the 19 published decisions of the National Insurance Commissioners in 1970 were favourable to the claimant.

Of the 19 published decisions. 10 were favourable to the claimant.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many appeals to the National Insurance Commissioners have been decided in favour of the claimants during the past 12 months; and to how many workers claiming unemployment benefit such decisions applied.

In the period ended 31st December, 1971, the commissioners decided 2,244 appeals of which 955 were in respect of unemployment benefit. Six hundred and thirty-four were decided in favour of the claimant and of these 276 were for unemployment benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make available to the hon. Member for Nuneaton the 249 favourable unemployment decisions of the National Insurance Commissioners in 1970.

I am writing to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many decisions of the National Insurance Commissioners were published in 1971; and how many decisions, both oral and written, were not officially published.

The Chief Commissioner selected 24 decisions for publication out of 2,244 appeals which were decided.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what provision he is making for existing local authority chiropodists in his plans for the reorganisation of local government; and if he will make a statement.

Chiropody services provided by local health authorities and the chiropodists so employed will be transferred to the new health authorities on reorganisation of local government and the National Health Service in 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a further statement on the action he has taken regarding the forthcoming conference on the human environment to be held in Stockholm.

We are continuing to play a major part in all the preparations for the U.N. Conference on the Human Environment, at which I shall be leading a strong British delegation. For fuller details I would refer the right hon. Member to what my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary said on the occasion of the debate on the Adjournment of 22nd December.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many occasions since 1st January. 1971, he has issued certificates under Section 228(1) of the Local Government Act, 1933; and for what purposes.

Following is the information:

SANCTIONS ISSUED UNDER SECTION 228(1) OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1933 FROM 1ST JANUARY, 1971 TO 15TH FEBRUARY, 1972 TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND OTHER STATUTORY BODIES SUBJECT TO DISTRICT AUDIT
1. Superannuation and related matters concerning employees	47
2. Conferences allowances. Expenditure exceeding prescribed rates for attendances at conferences abroad. Also expenses of attendances at conferences by statutory bodies without specific powers to pay, e.g., combined police authorities	39
3. Losses by contractors: i.e. genuine losses resulting from unforeseen circumstances, not to restore reductions in profits	13
4. Housing matters—mainly ex-gratia payments in relation to slum clearance and improvement grants and to cover abortive expenditure incurred in negotiations with an authority	49
5. Planning and related matters	20
6. Flooding and Water mains (ex-gratia payments by statutory water undertakers)	14
7. Medical and Welfare cases	9
8. Personal injury	1
9. Sewerage	7
10. Miscellaneous ex-gratia payments	33
TOTAL	232

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the extra allocation of moneys for employment purposes in Humberside.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to the Special Environmental Assistance Scheme announced on 7th February. No specific allocations have been made for particular areas or regions. I hope local authorities in the Humberside area will undertake as much work as they can in the time available under the scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the probable average rush-hour transit time of a vehicle with a top speed of 50 miles per hour between Central London and the terminal building at the projected Foulness Airport during the year when the first runway is brought into use.

Such a calculation would not be meaningful at this stage. But I can assure my hon. Friend that we attach great importance to speedy access to Maplin.

ENGLISH NEW TOWN APPOINTMENTS BETWEEN 18TH JUNE, 1970 AND 18TH FEBRUARY, 1972
Development Corporations		Status			Name				Date of Appointment
Aycliffe and Peterlee.		Chairman	…	…	Mr. H. D. Stevenson, MA.			…	23rd November, 1971
Basildon	…	Chairman		…	Mr. A. O. Kelting	…	…	…	1st February, 1971
		Member	…	…	Mrs. Elizabeth Coker, B.Sc.			…	1st February, 1971
		Member	…	…	Miss Shelagh Roberts		…	…	1st February, 1971
		Member	…	…	Mr. L. Lane, C.B.E.		…	…	1st February, 1971
Bracknell	…	Chairman		…	Mr. J. W. Hughes, B.Sc, F.R.I.C.S.				1st September, 1971
Central Lancashire New Town.		Chairman		…	Sir Frank Pearson, Baronet, M.B.E., J.P.				15th March, 1971
		Deputy Chairman			Mr. G. A. Wright	…	…	…	23rd July, 1971
		Member	…	…	Mr. J. F. Billinge	…	…	…	23rd July, 1971
		Member	…	…	Sir Matthew Busby, C.B.E.			…	23rd July, 1971
		Member	…	…	Lord Greenwood of Rossendale, P.C., J.P.				23rd July, 1971
		Member	…	…	Mr. T. Jackson	…	…	…	23rd July, 1971
		Member	…	…	Mrs. Rita Lytton	…	…	…	23rd July, 1971
		Member	…	…	Professor A. Mercer, M.A., Ph.E			…	23rd July, 1971
		Member	…	…	Mr. B. B. Pugh, M.C., M.A., LL.B.				23rd July, 1971
Harlow	…	Chairman	…	…	Mr. B. J. Perkins	…	…	…	1st January, 1972
Milton Keynes	…	Deputy Chairman			Mr. Evelyn de Rothschild		…	…	2nd December, 1971
		Member	…	…	Mr. P. G. Willcock	…	…	…	31st December, 1971
Northampton	…	Member	…	…	Mr. G. Chase Gardener		…	…	12th November, 1970
Peterborough	…	Member	…	…	Mr. J. R. Horrell, T.D.		…	…	10th August, 1970
Skelmersdale	…	Member	…	…	Mr. K. A. Gayton, J.P.		…	…	1st January, 1972
		Member	…	…	Lady Mott	…	…	…	1st January, 1972
		Member	…	…	Mr. A. W. Waterworth, M.A., J.P.				1st January, 1972
Telford	…	Chairman	…	…	Mr. J. Dugdale	…	…	…	15th September, 1971
Commission for the New Towns.		Chairman	…	…	Mr. C. D. Pilcher, C.B.E., F.R.I.C.S.				1st July, 1971
		Deputy Chairman			Mrs. B. F. R. Paterson, J.P.			…	1st November, 1971 (appointed as member 24th November, 1961)
		Member	…	…	Mr. P. G. Grimshaw				1st January, 1971

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) who is the designer of the new Government offices on the site of Queen Anne's Mansions; and whether he will make the plans and elevational drawings available to hon. Members in the Library;(2) how the proposed new Government offices on the site of Queen Anne's Mansions will be financed; what is the estimated extent of usable office space; and what is the provisional departmental allocation of the space to be provided.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the persons he has appointed to new town boards since 18th June, 1970; to which boards the appointments were made; and on what dates.

Following is the information:

Queen Anne's Mansions is a commercial development by the owners of the site—Land Securities Investment Trust Ltd. My Department is not responsible for the design but has entered into a contract to lease the building for Government office purposes when it is completed. The building will provide about 250,000 sq. ft. of net office space, and the Civil Service Department will be the principal occupant.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will reconsider his water resources plan and allow the British Waterways Board to continue.

It is no longer appropriate that the canals should be administered as though they were a transport industry. Consultations are proceeding with the British Waterways Board as to the best form of management of the canals within the framework that responsibility passes to the regional water authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has of the number of persons employed by local authorities in town and country planning departments and in his Department, respectively.

There is no centrally-held record of numbers of staff employed in specific departments of local authorities. At a very rough estimate some 2,500 people with a professional qualification are employed on planning duties. In my Department—including the Inspectorate—rather under 2,000 of all grades are employed on planning and land use matters. Of these, some 500 hold professional qualifications and 187 are chartered planners.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total cost incurred in providing the Rent Officer Service to the end of the financial year 1970–71; and in respect of how many dwellings were fair rents determined in the same period.

From the start of rent regulation in 1966, the total cost was £5,154,562. Rents for 224,012 dwellings were registered in that period.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many rent officers were employed in England and Wales at the end of 1971; and how many houses there were for which fair rents were determined during the first half of the financial year 1971–72.

There were 407 rent officers employed at that date. Rents were registered for 50,421 dwellings during the period stated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the total number of acres of derelict land created each year in England.

Between 1964 and 1970 the surveys showed an average annual increase of 1,685 acres in the land classified as derelict in England. But this is not a measure of the creation of new dereliction because it reflects new survey work by local authorities and substantial railway and colliery closures. These closures result in land which has long been despoiled being counted in the survey for the first time. Land temporarily affected by current mineral workings is not included because it will normally be subject to planning conditions requiring appropriate after treatment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which region of the country has most derelict land where the acreage justifying treatment is expressed as a percentage of the total land area of the region, and what is the percentage.

According to the last survey the North-West region had the highest proportion of derelict land justifying treatment in England. The proportion was 0·6 per cent. of its total land area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to ensure that council house tenants who will become eligible for rent rebates under the Government's proposals in the Housing Finance Bill are made aware of their rights to rebate.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. and learned Friend the hon. Member for Dover (Mr. Peter Rees) on 8th February, 1972.—[Vol. 830, c. 327–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent discussions or consultations he has had with representative bodies of employers and employees in road transport services concerning the implementation of Regulation 1463/70 of the European Economic Community which requires the installation of automatic recording equipment in the cabs of lorries.

I have had several such discussions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the age groups of drivers of motor vehicles in the order in which they are most prone to involvement in fatal and serious accidents.