asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps are being taken to provide the Foreign and Commonwealth Office with office accommodation more consistent with the requirements of modern business practice.

My Department is carrying out a short-term improvement of the old public offices. A more permanent solution is being considered in consultation with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take steps to ensure that applications by persons for improvement grants for houses in the newly designated intermediate areas, submitted but not accepted prior to the Budget, shall be eligible for grant at the higher rate of 75 per cent.

The higher rate of grant in these areas only applies to applications made on or after 22nd March, 1972. I am advised, however, that there would appear to be no legal objection to local authorities concerned allowing an application made before that date to be withdrawn and resubmitted provided the original application had not been approved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation with a view to making improvement and discretionary grants a priority for people who are seeking to improve their place of residence and for those who have lived in their present accommodation for a length of time.

There is no need to attempt to establish by legislation any priorities between different categories of owners because local authorities are free to make as many grants as they wish.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for a review of the working of improvement grant schemes in Inner London.

The working of improvement grant schemes in London is kept under constant review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the grants available for house improvements and state what their real value is today compared with what their value was on the date of introduction.

Under the Housing Act, 1969, improvement grants up to a normal maximum of £1,000 per dwelling, standards grants up to a normal maximum of £200 per dwelling and special grants subject to a normal maximum determined by the number of amenities installed. In the development and intermediate areas these amounts have been increased to £1,500 and £300 respectively under the Housing Act, 1971.The pound in 1969 was worth 82·5 new pence in February, 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the number of improvement grants which have been made in the 12 months ended 31st March, 1972, in respect of houses which are not the main residence of the applicant.

This information is not asked for on grant applications forms and I am unable to make any estimates.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a further statement on the continuing rise in land and house prices in Greater London; and what action he intends taking to offset this.

I am encouraging the London authorities to continue with a high level of building and to seek ways of providing housing at reasonable prices for Londoners wishing to buy. In this connection the Action Group on London Housing is engaged on a housing land availability survey and I am continuing to press land holding Government departments and nationalised industries for the release of surplus land for housing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress is being made in the implementation of his policies with regard to the purchase price of new houses; and if he will make a statement.

Our policies are aimed at increasing the supply of houses for sale where there is the demand. This is the most effective answer to rising house prices.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the safeguards contained in the Government's proposed new waterways legislation to prevent the closure by the regional water authorities of stretches of canal.

The new authorities will have the same obligations as the British Waterways Board now has to maintain commercial and cruising waterways. Any closure proposal would be subject as now to a statutory procedure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has studied the effects of the proposed fair rents scheme on rents in the London Borough of Camden in the light of the leaflet produced by the borough council, a copy of which has been sent to him; and if he will make a statement.

The leaflet gives a very distorted account of the Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average fair rent which has been determined in the West Riding of Yorkshire since 1st April, 1970.

This information is not readily available but for fair rents determined between 1st January, 1970, and the end of December, 1971, the average registered rent was £126·95 a year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average net rent for council dwellings in Yorkshire and Humberside in 1971–72; and the total rent yield from council houses in the region in that year.

The latest available information on average council rents is in pages 7–21 of the December, 1971, edition of Part I of Housing Statistics (England and Wales) published by the Institute of Municipal Treasurers and Accountants. The latest information on total rent yields from council dwellings is in the April, 1971, edition of Part 2 of that publication.Copies are in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of council tenants now expected to qualify for rent rebate in 1972–73, and the number of those tenants whom he expects to pay more rent, after rebates, than they did in 1971–72.

The estimates given in Standing Committee E—column 429 of the Official Report—by my right hon. Friend remain unchanged. I am unable to make the estimate in the second part of the Question because of the many variable factors involved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance he proposes to give to local authorities concerning the transition to fair rents, particularly on the rate of increase permissible.

:The progression to fair rents required under the Housing Finance Bill is set out in Clauses 63 to 66 of the Bill. My right hon. Friend proposes to issue a circular after the enactment of the Bill to provide any necessary explanation of its provisions, including those relating to the progression to fair rents.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance he proposes to give to ensure that properly qualified persons will receive rent rebates under the terms of the Housing Finance Bill; and whether he will make a statement.

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

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a further statement on the proposals submitted to him by the Port of London Authority for an oil terminal.

I have today informed the Authority of my agreement in principle to these proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department has studied any recent proposals from the Greater London Council or the local authorities of other major cities for an experimental private car prohibition on a temporary basis in inner city areas.

Local authorities in many towns use traffic management and pedestrianisation schemes to restrain car traffic. I know of no proposal by an authority to prohibit cars from the whole of an inner city area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will step up an investigation into the co-ordination of the various passenger trans port facilities, particularly with a view to the improvement of interchange facilities.

The improvement of public transport interchanges is currently being studied in the Liverpool and Manchester areas.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why he proposes to extend the existing four-lane carriageway on the M1 between Watford and Hemel Hempstead into an eight-lane carriageway, instead of making it a six-lane carriageway and thus uniform with those parts of the M1 south of Watford and north of Hemel Hempstead.

This stretch of the M1 is heavily overloaded. Traffic information indicates that dual four-lane capacity should be provided now to give a satisfactory economic life.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the atmospheric pollution in the North Ferriby area.

Together with the District Alkali Inspector, I recently visited the works of Capper Pass and Son Limited at North Ferriby and had discussions with the management, trade union leaders and the local medical officer of health. I saw the efforts being made to reduce lead emissions. Arrangements have been made for comprehensive tests to be carried out on local people, animals, produce and the environment. The findings to date, which include some of the results for lead in the blood of adults, indicate that there is no danger to public health. Nevertheless, my right hon. Friend and I want to see a reduction of emissions from these works and we shall be studying the further findings and continuing to watch the position closely.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to improve the maintenance of satisfactory standards of road safety by local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has proposed that road accident prevention should become a statutory obligation of the new county councils and the London authorities. Exemption from the county road safety rate has been withdrawn from 135 non-county boroughs and urban districts. The performance of other authorities with exemption will remain under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from local authorities concerning his proposals further to restrict the activities of direct labour departments.

Following consultations, my right hon. Friend has received representations from and on behalf of a number of interested bodies which are currently under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the progress being made in response to his request for the redevelopment of British Rail's surplus land; and if he will make a statement.

In the past three years sales of surplus land by British Railways have totalled some £36 million. The Board is aware of the urgent need for more land for housing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will discourage the adoption by local authorities of so-called free fares public transport systems.

This is a matter for local authorities in the first instance. But public transport has to be paid for in one way or another. I would want to look carefully at any proposal put to me to see who was being asked to pay for other people's travel and on what grounds.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has, or estimate he has made, of retail planning applications made to local authorities involving more than 50,000 square feet of floor space.

I do not have a comprehensive record, but I am aware of 35 applications for such developments outside existing centres which are currently with the local planning authorities or my right hon. Friend for decision.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has received from local authorities in South Bedfordshire for grants towards maintenance of rural bus services in the South Bedfordshire parliamentary constituency; and what grants are currently being paid in respect of each service.

I have received no proposals; it follows that I am paying no grants.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the number of local authorities who have entered into agreemetns with the various public transport boards regarding the subsidising of rural bus services.

I know of 75 authorities in England so far. I understand that in Scotland and Wales the figures are 22 and 20 respectively.I foresee no change in our policy resulting from entry into Europe.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is aware of the loss of life due to the failure to fence off tow paths; and if, when no public or private concern will admit to ownership of the land and take responsibility, he will take powers to take over control of such derelict areas and to improve the environmental situation.

Prevention of accidents of this kind and improvement of derelict areas must be local responsibilities. I am writing to the hon. Member about the unfortunate accident referred to in my reply given to the hon. Member on Wednesday, 19th April, 1972.—[Vol. 835, c. 99.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is aware of the concern felt in such areas of the insufficient consideration given to aspects of amenity in street lighting schemes in rural areas; and whether he will issue guidance on the matter and stress the desirability of providing non-distorting light in such areas wherever practicable.

The use of white light in all rural areas could not be justified economically. I propose to issue guidance to lighting authorities on the use of white light in conservation and other sensitive areas.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will re-examine his policy of awarding contracts for motorway cafes, in the light of price increases introduced in the last 12 months.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the progress of the discussions that have been taking place between his Department and British Rail regarding the use of surplus land in Greater London for housing purposes.

the beginning of the year discussions have been held between my Department, the British Rail Property Board, the GLC and nine of the London boroughs. Meetings are currently being arranged with the remaining 23 boroughs. As a result 90 acres of possible housing land have been identified and will be released. I would like to acknowledge the co-operation of British Rail in this exercise which is making a valuable contribution to meeting London's housing needs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is aware of the shortage of land for house building in the Rayleigh, Ben fleet and Canvey Island urban districts, the Rochford rural district, and the County Borough of Southend-on-Sea; and what steps he is taking designed to ensure that more land is made available.

Yes. Such shortages have arisen in many of the pressure areas of the South-East. My right hon. Friend is considering as a matter of urgency how he can help local authorities to improve the supply of building land.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much building land for which planning consent has been given is available for private house building in Rayleigh, Benfleet and Canvey Island urban districts, Rochford rural district, and the County Borough of Southend-on-Sea, respectively; and, having regard to the growth of these areas over the last decade and the current demand for housing, how long he estimates such amounts of land will suffice to meet their needs.

These statistics are not held in the Department. But as part of his urgent study of measures to increase the supply of housing land in the pressure areas, my right hon. Friend is considering whether it would be right to seek further information of this kind from local authorities and local planning authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what calculations have been made as to the cost of the Dee Barrage Scheme as at present envisaged; what calculations have been made as to the likely revenues from the crossing when completed; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has calculated what percentage of revenue would be procured on the completion of the Dee Barrage from road tolls, fresh water sales, and recreational facilities, respectively.

The economic implications of alternative schemes for the Dee Estuary were evaluated in cost-benefit terms in the consultants' report published last year. My right hon. Friend and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales are studying that report, and all other aspects of this very complex proposal, and a statement will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will announce the line of the road and rail links required for the construction and operation of Maplin Airport; and if he will make a statement.

As explained on 2nd February, the location of the road and rail routes will be announced as soon as information is available. Investigations are proceeding but the studies will take some time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the increase in population which will take place north of the River Crouch as a result of the construction and operation of Maplin Airport.

None at this stage. My right hon. Friend fully recognises the strongly held views that major urban development should not be allowed to spread north of the Crouch.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is aware that revitalisation schemes and improvement schemes are being held up through shortages of materials and man power; and if in these circumstances he will delay improvement grants in respect of houses which are not the main residence of the applicant.

I know that the success of the Government's policy has led to local difficulties in the development and intermediate areas. These will be eased by the announcement that legislation is to be introduced to extend by one year to 23rd June, 1974, the date before which works must be completed in order to qualify for the higher rates of grant under the Housing Act, 1971. I do not intend to ask local authorities to discriminate against any categories of owners.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received the study and recommendations of the Hertfordshire Federation of Gipsy Support Groups for dealing with the problem of travellers in Hertfordshire; and what action he is proposing to take.

:This Report which was received last week will be carefully considered. I am sure that the county council for its part will also wish to consider it fully.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many new houses were started in the public sector in the first quarter of 1972; and what were the comparable figures for each of the preceding eight years.

The figures for March, 1972, are not yet available; but in the hope of being helpful to the hon. Member I shall circulate the comparative figures for January and February in each of the years he mentions.The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many public authority houses were completed in 1971; and how this figure compares with those for 1965.

The figures for March, 1972, are not yet available; but in the hope of being helpful to the hon. Member I shall circulate the comparative figures for January and February in each of the years he mentions.The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now take action to ensure that reasonably priced housing is available to people employed on essential public services in the Greater London area.

My aim is to make adequate supplies of housing available to all Londoners who need them, including those employed on essential public services.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what legislation he proposes to introduce following the annual reports of the licensing authorities and their comments about defective maintenance of vehicles exempted from operator's licensing.

None for the moment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many inquiries were dealt with by the Building Research Station's technical advisory service in 1971; what fee income was received; and what were the equivalent figures for 1970.

The BRS Advisory Service dealt with nearly 22,000 inquiries in its first 11 months, to the end of March, 1971. Fee income was £36,000. For the financial year 1971–72 the number of inquiries was 24,000 and fee income rose to £57,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many of the staff of the Building Research Station concern themselves solely with the technical inquiry service; and what were the equivalent figures on 31st December, 1970.

The total number now employed is 25 as against 26 at the end of 1970. Nine technical staff are employed solely on the Advisory service and a further eight technical staff spend at least half of their time on this work. Eight staff are wholly employed in supervisory, clerical and accounting duties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce proposals to enable local authorities to purchase compulsorily houses in general improvement areas where landlords refuse to take steps to improve their properties.

Local authorities already have power to acquire houses compulsorily for improvement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what impact he expects will occur upon roads in Suffolk as a result of Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community; and what action consequent thereon he intends to take.

It is hard to make any worthwhile estimate of the kind asked for. No decision on weight limits has yet been reached by the Community.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, under the existing rules and regulations of the European Eoconomic Community and any proposals being considered on Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community, British motorists and their insurance companies will be free to have any type of insurance with or without harmonisation of cover, risks and premiums, within the legal enactments of the Road Traffic Acts as at present; and whether the British Parliament will be able to alter these without reference to the European Economic Community.

Although under current Community proposals, policies will have to give Community-wide cover, national law will continue to govern what liabilities are compulsorily insurable. As the hon. Member has been told before, the necessary extension of cover will be effected in such a way as not to affect premiums.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities have now entered into agreements with the various public transport undertakings regarding the subsidising of rural bus services; and to what extent, on Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community under the present rules and regulations, such subsidising will be permitted without reference to the European Economic Community.

I know of 75 authorities in England so far. I understand that in Scotland and Wales the figures are 22 and 20 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what impact he now expects will occur upon roads in Suffolk and the Greater London area as a result of Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community; and if he will make a progress report on the discussions with the Community about increases in the proposed weight limits.

It is hard to make any worthwhile estimate of the kind asked for. No decision on weight limits has yet been reached by the Community.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why he will not publish in the Official Report a detailed list showing to what extent under the existing rules and regulations of the European Economic Community and those now proposed, on Great Britain's entry, the use of cars and vehicles on the roads will be affected so far as tax, insurance, vehicle licensing, road testing, and all other existing legislation is concerned; and to what extent harmonisation will have to take place with the European Economic Community regulations.

The information has not been collected in this form. To do so would be both inordinately expensive and unnecessary. It would soon be out of date.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much Government money is to be given to the Sports Council to assist the British team to take part in the Olympic Games in Munich in August.

It is for the Sports Council to decide within broad limits and according to circumstances, how much of its total grant-in-aid shall be so used.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the present adult population of the proposed amalgamated County of Herefordshire and Worcestershire; what ingress popula- tion he has estimated during the 28 years to 2000 A.D.; and what change this will entail in the rural and agrarian character of Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

The estimated population at the 1971 Census was approximately 560,000, of whom about two-thirds would be adult. The West Midlands Planning Authorities' Conference Study suggests that the total population may increase by about 148,000 between 1971 and 2000 and that 117,000 will be natural increase and the balance net immigration, mainly on the edge of the West Midlands conurbation. I have at present no evidence that the general character of the combined counties will change markedly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now take steps to obviate the tipping of colliery waste on Durham beaches; and if he will make a statement.

I am arranging to meet a deputation from Durham County Council and Easington Rural District Council as a part of the full consideration being given to this problem.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will consider adopting a policy of financing public buildings at a lesser term than 60 years; and if he will make a statement.

The 60years term is a maximum period and the authorities are free to choose a shorter period of they wish. I am not persuaded that an alteration to the present arrangements would be advantageous.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in the light of a report by Mr. Harry Longinvin, a copy of which has been sent to him, he will set up a working party to study the conditions of young footballers under 16 years of age attached to foot ball clubs.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take steps to restrict the use of non-perishable materials in the manufacture of containers for household goods.

The disposal problems of plastic, glass and metal containers are being intensively studied by representative working parties with which my Department is associated. My right hon. Friend will need to consider their findings before deciding what action may need to be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what technical advice he has made available to the Sunderland Corporation about the dumping of toxic waste in disused mines.

Officials of my Department are willing at any time to give technical advice to the Corporation on this subject without prejudice to the decision on any application which may come formally before my right hon. Friend under the Water Resources Act, 1963, or the Town and Country Planning Acts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in considering the raising of the speed limit in Bishops Sutton on the A31 in Hampshire, he will take heed of the blind turnings in the village, the two public houses at the narrowest points, the agricultural activities in summer which coincide with the maximum holiday traffic, and the representations of the inhabitants against 40 miles per hour traffic in the village.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now publish details of the proposed planning restraints made by his Department on development in the area of the Jodrell Bank Radio Telescope.

The control of development in the area of the telescope is primarily the responsibility of Cheshire County Council, which is consulting Manchester University and the district councils concerned on future policies for the area. When these consultations are completed my right hon. Friend proposes to make a direction formalising arrangements for consultation between the county council and the university.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will investigate the reasons for the heavy emission of sulphur dioxide from the Coalite plant at Rossington on 15th and 17th April; and if he will make a statement.

Monitoring shows that emissions of sulphur dioxide on these dates were not unusually high. The complaint received by the local authority related to the characteristic smell from the plant. This is related not to sulphur dioxide but to the manufacturing process itself. The best practicable means are in use to minimise emissions to the atmosphere, but it is not possible to eliminate the smell altogether.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied that the environmental safeguards asked for by the hon. Member for Don caster during the debate on environmental pollution on 20th July, 1970, consequent upon the Secretary of State's approval of the establishment of the Coalite plant at Rossington, have been fully implemented; and if he will make a statement.

The screening of the site and certain measures to prevent pollution of the River Torne by accidental spillages of surface water run off were taken into account in formulating the conditions attached to planning permission for the plant. Enforcement of these conditions is a matter for the local planning authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, when considering the Countryside Commission's recommendation for the control of National Parks, he will ensure that local authorities with National Parks in their area are represented as of right on park planning boards; and if he will give an assurance that the planning boards administering individual National Parks will operate in association with the planning powers of the new district councils.

The Government have received representations that there should be a statutory right for new district councils within national parks to be represented on national parks boards and committees. Subject to consideration of these representations, it is proposed that two-thirds of the members should be appointed by the new county councils with national parks in their areas.Planning within national parks will not be a statutory function of the new district councils, but we agree that these councils will need to be associated in a number of ways with the national park boards and committees in the exercise of their functions. In particular, we propose that there should be a statutory requirement on the national park authorities, in dealing with planning applications, to consult the new district council concerned. The general provisions we propose for notifying parish councils of planning applications will also apply in national parks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many deaths and how many injuries have occurred in motor accidents on the M1 motorway in Leicestershire in each of the years from 1965 to 1971, inclusive; and how many and what percentage of the above accidents occurred in fog.

Following are the figures:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many staff were employed by local authorities for work involving house management and housing finance on 1st April, 1971, and on 1st April, 1972.

Local authorities are not required to provide detailed staffing statistics to the Department. I therefore regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council houses were sold in Manchester in each of the years 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1971, inclusive; and what action he is taking to ensure that the figure continues to rise in 1972.

The numbers of houses sold annually by Manchester CBC since 1967 have been as follows:

The Council decided in 1971 to stop selling its houses and none were sold in the final quarter of last year or since. This is a matter for great regret. The council should be fully aware of the advantages of selling council houses to meet the wishes of many of its tenants who wish to buy. The encouragement of owner occupation in this way is something we should all wish to encourage. My right hon. Friend is keeping the general position on the sale of council houses under close review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made on the review of the safety of steel box girder bridges.

:Twenty-five box girder bridges are still subject to restrictions. The strengthening of nine of these bridges is in progress or due to start shortly; and appraisals of the remaining 16 bridges are in hand. Everything possible is being done to complete this work as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Environment when he expects to reply to the communication of 20th February from the hon. Member for Willesden, East setting out proposals to control the prices of development, modernised and converted property, and to expand the rate of housing improvements; whether he will publish the contents of the communication and reply in the Official Report; and whether he will make a statement.

I hope within a few days to send the hon. Member a comprehensive letter discussing his own proposals and others for dealing with the range of problems he mentioned in his letter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average time lapse between application and grant of a loan by the Council for the Organisation of Small Industries in Rural Areas in Wales.

The period varies widely with the nature of the application but the average is 52 days in England and Wales. No separate figure for Wales is readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average cost to each successful applicant, apart from interest, who obtains loans via the Council for the Organisation of Small Industries in Rural Areas.

If a mortgage is taken legal charges for investigation of title are made. Otherwise there is no cost to the applicant apart from interest.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration his Department has now given to proposals to use London's redundant dockland areas for new private and municipal housing development; and if he will make a statement.

The joint study of London's dockland areas is expected to be finished by about the end of the year and should result in substantial new areas being proposed for private and municipal housing. In view of the urgent housing needs of this part of London, however, steps are being taken to release some of this land for housing development at an early date.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has yet received from the London Borough of Harrow Authority details of the available rubbish dumps and tipping sites within the borough.

Copies of the appropriate questionnaire for the review of waste disposal facilities were sent on 12th April, 1972, to those authorities responsible for refuse disposal. They have been asked to collect and record certain details and to pass the questionnaires to the Institute of Geological Sciences and the appropriate river authority for further information to be recorded before final copies are available. The aim is to complete this in respect of every site not later than 31st March, 1973.With regard to the Greater London area, the GLC is responsible for completing the questionnaires and will be liaising with the London boroughs as necessary and particularly with regard to the existence of privately-owned waste disposal facilities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will request the Greater London Council to re-examine their proposals to extend pig-farming operations at Wood Lane Farm, Stanmore, Middlesex.

No. It is for the Harrow London Borough Council to consider whether, in the light of representations from local residents, it should require the alteration or removal of the new pig-rearing unit for which it gave planning permission last year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what statistics of house sales he collects from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors; and whether they will be published.

Through the Institution, a panel of 400 estate agents representing all parts of England and Wales provides information four times a year on the number of second-hand dwellings which they have for sale, how many of these have been on their books more than three months and the number of sales made in the previous three months. They also give an assessment of the state of the market.A summary of the results is subsequently released to the Press by the Institution and reported in its journal

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the widening of the A1 road between Tufnell Park Road and Archway, as to when this is likely to be approved and started, and what is the estimated cost.

A Greater London Council scheme for the improvement of this length of road was included in the latest instalment of the Principal Road Preparation List announced on 28th

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will bring up to date the table on page seven of the Report of the Economic Development Committee for Building, entitled "Action on the Barnwell Report" a copy of which is in his possession, the original details of which were supplied by his Department.

The table referred to shows figures for the June quarters of 1964, 1965, and 1966. The following table shows figures for the years 1964 to 1970, and the first three-quarters of 1971.March. The Council currently estimates the cost to be approximately £3 million and plans to begin construction in the late 1970s.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to receive geological advice from the Water Resources Board which will enable him to determine the appeal concerning the licences for extraction of water from the Totford pumping stations.

:This advice has now been received and a decision will be issued shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to make a statement on the reports of departmental working parties on motorway fog driving.

Shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations from the British Safety Council he has received about improvements in motorway driving and safety; and what reply he has sent.

The Council has drawn attention to its 1969 "Motorway Charter". I will send a copy of the Department's reply to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what research has been undertaken by the Road Research Laboratory into the reductions in casualties resulting from road accidents through wearing car seat-belts.

There is a continuing programme of research on design of seat belts and their effectiveness. Studies of accident statistics show that on average the risk of injury is halved if seat belts are worn.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report a list of those local authorities operating concessionary bus fares for retirement pensioners.

No. Local authorities are not required to provide such information to me.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he is aware of the fact that property speculators from the countries of the Six, particularly from France and Germany, are purchasing land, farms and property in Great Britain on a speculative basis; and, as this is adversely affecting British house-building, if he will seek powers to prevent this;(2) to what extent under the present rules and regulations of the European Economic Community on Great Britain's entry into the Community he could take action to stop speculative land purchases by individuals from the other member countries without reference to the European Economic Community.

There is nothing in the present rules and regulations of the European Economic Community which would limit the freedom of my right hon. Friend to take action about land speculation in general if he thought it desirable. There is no evidence that there are speculative transactions by Frenchmen and Germans buying land in Great Britain which adversely affects British house building.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take the necessary action, if need be by legislation, to suspend all road traffic parking meters during the period of the rail dispute.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will announce his decisions on a subsidy for transport and reduction in freight rates to Orkney and Shetland and between the islands.

I announced my policy for shipping services to the Scottish islands, including the system of charging and support, in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Edward Taylor) on 18th April. Copies have been sent to the local authorities in Orkney and Shetland and to the shipping operators concerned.The arterial routes to Orkney and Shetland will be eligible in principle for direct Government subsidy if the operator

concerned is prepared to enter into formal arrangements. The Orkney and Shetland inter-island services will be for local authorities to support under Section 34 of the Transport Act, 1968, with the assistance of Government grant in approved cases.—[Vol. 835, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average length of service of a teacher in any one local authority school; and what were the figures five, 10 and 15 years ago, respectively.

This information is not available. Information about the schools in which a teacher served prior to 1st April, 1965, is not held centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1)if he will now publish the proposed new boundaries of each local authority and the timetable in which objections can be lodged;(2) if he has now completed his discussions with local authorities, on the basis of his newest set of proposals for the reform of local government; and if he will make a statement;(3) how many sets of proposals he has published in efforts to devise acceptable boundaries for the new proposed regional and district local authorities in 1974.

The proposed local authority areas were first outlined in February, 1971, in the White Paper on Reform of Local Government in Scotland. Detailed consultations on the boundaries of these areas were completed last year. I announced on 22nd December, 1971 a number of alterations which I intend to make in the proposed boundaries, and I published on 6th January, 1972, a revised description of the proposed areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if it remains his intention to reorganise local government by 1974, in the light of the response to his proposals.

I still intend to introduce a Bill providing for new local authorities to begin discharging their functions in 1975, and for the first elections to these authorities to be held in 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the proposed number of electors to elect each Glasgow councillor to the West Regional Council and to the Glasgow District Council, respectively.

Under the Department's provisional proposals, the regional and district councillors representing the electorate of the proposed Glasgow District would be returned by 19,309 and 9,654 electors on average, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the strict method of assessment employed by general practitioners in assessing whether or not elderly chronic sick should be admitted to hospital; whether this is due to shortage of beds and/or shortage of nurses; and if he will inquire into the circumstances and consult the health and social work departments with a view to improving the situation.

The method of medical assessment of the needs of the elderly chronic sick, including assessment for admission to hospital, is a matter for the clinical judgment of the doctors concerned.On the assessment of the needs of the elderly generally, local authority associations, regional hospital boards and other bodies are being consulted on proposed criteria for the admission of elderly persons to various types of accommodation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he can now say when he expects to receive the Hadson Report in respect of further education.

I hope shortly to complete my consideration of the comments of the many interested bodies on this important Report, which I commended to them in June, 1971, and to announce my conclusions.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals have been submitted to him for a new concert hall in Glasgow by the local authority.

No proposals have yet been put to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that those appearing before a stipendiary magistrate are liable to the same penalties as those persons appearing before a sheriff and that those in the latter category are entitled to legal aid while those appearing before the stipendiary magistrate are not; and if, in order to eradicate this anomaly, he will make legal aid available in the stipendiary as well as the lay magistrates' courts.

It is proposed to make legal aid available for criminal proceedings in all courts of summary jurisdiction, as financial resources permit. It is unlikely that this will be practicable before the introduction, following the reform of local government, of the new arrangements for dealing with criminal cases at present heard in the burgh court. Under the Legal Advice and Assistance Bill, presently before Parliament, legal advice will be available to a person summoned to appear before a burgh court, although he will not be entitled to facilities for legal representation in court.I should add that the similarity in the powers of the sheriff and stipendiary magistrate does not apply generally but only where the sheriff is dealing with cases under summary procedure.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has now established the Local Government Boundary Commission; and what proposals they have submitted to him.

I have no power at present to set up this Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the increasing vehicular traffic using the road from Hill foot, Dunbartonshire, to join the A879 road at the T junction with Balmore Road at Allander Toll; what future plans there are for this site; and if he will consult the local authorities involved with a view to effecting an immediate improvement.

I understand that both Glasgow Corporation and Stirling County Council are preparing urgently to improve the junctions at Allander Toll to provide for increased traffic.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, from information available from international sources, what has been the percentage increase in the number undergoing full- and part-time education in Italy since 1958–59; and how this compares with the percentage increase during the same period in Scotland.

Between 1958–59and 1967–68, the latest year for which information is available, the number of children attending schools, excluding special schools, in Italy appears to have increased by 14·5 per cent. compared with an increase of 6·4 per cent. in Scotland. This comparison is not wholly reliable since the statistics for the two countries are compiled on different bases. Moreover, variations in actual numbers depend on demographic as well as educational considerations. Information about numbers in further and higher education in Italy is not readily available and cannot be obtained without disproportionate expense.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many local authorities in Scotland currently operate the provisions of Section 244 of the Local Government Act, 1947; and if he will list these authorities in the Official Report.

Information about how many, or which, authorities exercise this discretionary power to give relief from rates on the ground of poverty is not available centrally. Since 1966, rate relief has been given mainly under the statutory rebate scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent, under the present regulations, people in Scotland are enabled to decline to have their children vaccinated against smallpox on conscientious grounds; to what extent vaccination is free for children; and how these positions will change on Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to him yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services. The position is the same in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those organisations in Wales that have protested to him in opposition to the Government's Housing Finance Bill; and what reply he has sent to them.