asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations he has had with the Association of Municipal Corporations and the local government organisations on the preservation of confidentiality in the handling of matters involving rent rebates.

This subject has not been discussed with the local authority associations because authorities already understand the need for confidentiality. The need for confidentiality will be emphasised in the circular to be issued on rent rebates and allowances after enactment of the Housing Finance Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will consider placing wind-socks at key points on motorways to enable motorists to gauge the strength of crosswinds.

No. Windsocks would be difficult to interpret and they have other drawbacks; but suitable warning signs are provided where necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now make an announcement concerning compensation to those affected by the building of motorways.

When the Report of the Urban Motorways Committee has been studied the Government's proposals will be published in a White Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he proposes to take any measures for protecting people travelling in motor cars on motorways from persons throwing stones and other objects from bridges traversing such motorways.

I am considering this problem.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will consider planting more trees along motorway embankments and between crash barriers where appropriate to reduce wind age.

Consideration is already given to the creation of windbreaks when planting plans are prepared. There is insufficient space for planting to be carried out between central safety barriers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will consider bringing forward the starting dates for the M64 and M42 motorways, in view of the increasing traffic congestion in urban areas in the East Midlands.

This has already been done in respect of the M42; the M64 is at a much earlier stage of preparation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the figures for average house price increases in the two years up to 18th June, 1972, both for newly built and second-hand dwellings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment by what percentage house prices have risen since 31st December, 1971.

The average price of new dwellings mortgaged with building societies in the second quarter of 1972 was about 15 per cent. higher than in the fourth quarter of 1971 and about 37 per cent. higher than in the second quarter of 1970. Similar information is not yet available for second-hand dwellings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the average price of a new house in the Yorkshire and Humberside Region in June, 1970; and what is the average price for the latest convenient date.

The average price of new private dwellings in the three northern regions of England mortgaged with building societies was £4,258 in 1970 and £4,824 in the 12 months ending on 31st March this year. Separate information for the Yorkshire and Humberside Region is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will seek powers to set up regional bodies with power to assemble information, plan ahead and co-ordinate and control development which will provide the aesthetic and social supervision required to prevent cities and towns being deprived by piecemeal erosion of character and cultural heritage.

No. The protection of the character of cities and towns is in the first place a matter for the local planning authorities concerned in the exercise of their planning and development control powers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for the electrification of the Bedford-St. Pancras railway line; when he expects work to begin; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that the Railways Board has such a project in mind. But I cannot say what proposals it may decide to put forward.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in how many cases decisions in respect of appeals concerning the establishment of a hyper market have been delayed for more than eight months from the date of the appeal, and why.

In the recent past there have been eight such appeals, six of which are still outstanding; these appeals raise important issues which need to be carefully considered before they are decided.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further documents concerning reorganisation of water services he expects to publish before publication of a Bill on this subject; and which of these documents will contain conclusions consequent upon comments received by him in respect of his series of consultation papers.

Consultation papers will be published shortly on the National Water Council, on the Water Services Staff Commission, on the amenity use of water space and the future of the British Waterways Board, and on Exchequer grants for water services. We also intend to publish our conclusions on the division of responsibility for sewerage between regional water authorities and local authorities. All these documents will reflect the consultations which have already been held.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to publish the further consultative papers on the reorganisation of water and sewerage services.

Consultation papers will be published shortly on the National Water Council, on the Water Services Staff Commission, on the amenity use of water space and the future of the British Waterways Board and on Exchequer grants for water services. We also intend to publish our conclusions on the division of responsibility for sewerage between regional water authorities and local authorities. All these documents will reflect the consultations which have already been held. Further documents dealing with particular aspects of reorganisation will be published in advance of the Bill where this seems desirable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received on the subject of the reorganisation of water and sewerage services; and if he will make a statement.

I met representatives of the local authority associations last week to discuss their joint memorandum on the Government's proposals. I emphasised that it is my intention to introduce legislation which will ensure the comprehensive management of river basins. I undertook to send the associatons a considered reply to the points made in their memorandum and at the meeting.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from local authorities in South and West Hampshire concerning his request to set up working parties of officers and steering committees of elected representatives to plan the reorganisation of sewerage and sewage disposal in the area.

The three groups including local authorities in South and West Hampshire have set up these bodies, but the steering committee for the Test/Itchen catchment area has deferred any further meetings for the time being.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when last his Department reviewed the level of the penalty for breaches of a closing order as enacted in 1923 with a view to introducing legislation to raise it to a realistic level in present-day conditions.

The level of this penalty of which the maximum is £20 and in addition £5 for every day of contravention after conviction has not been specifically reviewed by the Department since its introduction.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce legislation to prevent the disfigurement of the urban environment by advertisements painted all over buses.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what response he has had from the Bolton Corporation to his circular requesting that it reviews its policy on the sale of council houses.

I understand that the corporation has not decided to resume the sale of council houses. I regret this and very much hope that as the demand from its tenants increases the corporation will be moved to sell.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what reply he has sent to the letters addressed to him by Mr. Harry Hyams on the subject of Centre Point on 27th and 28th June.

I replied to Mr. Hyams on 18th July. The following is a copy of my reply:Letter to H. J Hyams, Esq.18th July, 1972I have received your letters of 27th and 28th June, commenting on my references to empty office blocks.In my speech in the House recorded in the Official Report for 26th June, you may see that I referred, in general terms, to the practice of leaving completed office blocks empty so as to enhance capital gains. I said that the effect of this practice was to frustrate office development and planning controls, to deprive the ratepayers of a substantial contribution to the rates, and to waste resources.In your letters you refer only to Centre Point, which I mentioned in my speech in the House as one example of an office block which has stood empty for many years. I cannot, of course, comment on the details of your negotiations with possible tenants of Centre Point. However, it does seem to me—as you know it does to many people in the property world—extraordinary that buildings in such prime positions as Centre Point and London Bridge House should have stood empty for so long at a time when there has been an acute scarcity of offices in central London.I am concerned to bring about an end to the present situation. I am sure that you will appreciate the reasons for this, as explained in my speech in the House. I indicated then a number of possible courses of action. And I also said that I would be prepared to introduce legislation within a few months if this should still prove to be necessary.I am making copies of this letter available to the Press.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent communications he has received from Mr. Harry Hyams on the subject of Centre Point.

Mr. Hyams wrote to me on 27th and 28th June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from office property developers following his policy statements concerning Centre Point; and if he will make a statement.

None, apart from the owners of Centre Point.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is aware of the practice of granting deferred sales of long leases as a device to circumvent the Rent Acts; what steps he proposes to deal with this abuse; and if he will make a statement.

The Department has been aware of this practice for some time. We adhere to the view that the law as it stands is capable of dealing with these transactions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now bring in legislation to establish a sand and gravel operators restoration fund.

My right hon. Friend is considering representations about the operation of the planning system in relation to mineral working, including proposals for a restoration fund. He hopes to make a statement very soon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, following evidence submitted to him, whether he has yet reached any conclusions about the effect of fog walls on multiple motor way accidents; and if he will make a statement.

I have been studying the general issues about which my hon. Friend wrote to me on 31st May and hope to let him have my views very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the outcome of discussions between his Department and the local authorities concerning the possible development of the marshes at Rainham, Essex, for housing and light industrial development.

No direct discussions have taken place.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why number 25, Acacia Road, London, NW8, a building on which there was a preservation order, has now been demolished; and what action he has taken.

Consent to demolish this building was given by the local planning authority on account of its ruinous condition and because it was proposed to erect a near replica of it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been achieved by the Transport and Road Research Laboratory into the means of reducing surface water on roads as a method of restricting the spray thrown up by vehicles in wet weather.

Trials of porous road surfacings are continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the latest information from the Nationwide Building Society, a copy of which is in his possession, that the average price of new houses mortgaged to that Society in the second quarter of 1972 was £11,531 for London and the South-East Region and £10,043 for the Southern Region, he will now raise the limit from £7,500 to £10,000 for Government-assisted guarantees for high percentage loans made under the option mortgage scheme to less well-off borrowers.

Any average house price figures will include a range of lower as well as higher prices. The national figures for option mortgage guarantees continue to rise, and I therefore do not think it necessary to increase the guarantee limit at present. But I will keep the limit under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the existing systems to monitor pollution in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

I am at present reviewing our arrangements for monitoring pollution, and hope to make a full statement shortly. At this stage I can, however, say that some of these arrangements will certainly need extension and strengthening.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to announce his decision on the result of the public inquiry into the Magiston boreholes, Sydling, Dorset.

The decision was issued on 5th July.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further discussions he proposes to hold about the problem of heavy lorries and long lorries on roads in built-up areas.

I intend to circulate proposals shortly to the local authority associations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the closing of the Huntingdon Ring Road, which was opened in June, in particular as to when it is to be reopened.

An almost completed section of the ring road was opened temporarily during June and again this week to allow works in George Street. The section was closed for the work on it to be completed. The ring road should be fully opened on 31st July.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will institute a spot check on the pollution caused by excessive emission of carbon and other chemicals coming from the motor coaches which bring visitors to Westminster Abbey and the Palace of Westminster.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give for the longest and most convenient period of time details of contracts or moneys supplied by his Department to any of the firms controlled by, or in which there was an interest held directly by Mr. Dan Smith and Mr. George Pottinger whilst in receipt of State funds.

The records kept by my Department in connection with the type of transaction mentioned by the hon. Member normally relate to firms rather than to individuals. I have been able to trace only one such transaction. This was a painting contract, of an annual value of £25,000, let in 1967 by the former Ministry of Public Buildings and Works, under normal competition, to Smith Decorators (Newcastle) Limited, of which Mr. Dan Smith was, I understand, a director.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to require local planning authorities to advertise development proposals and to notify owners of land involved in all circumstances, and not to leave it to local authorities to decide whether such notification is necessary or not.

I agree that there is scope for extending the requirements for publicity: but a universal requirement to advertise and notify would be too sweeping and I think it desirable to leave a large measure of discretion with local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what precautions have been taken to prevent those local authorities whom it is envisaged will cease to function under the proposed local government reorganisation from dissipating their financial resources prior to reorganisation.

The existing law is a deterrent to dissipation in its requirements that local authorities must levy sufficient rates and precepts to meet expected lawful expenditure and must have statutory authority for all expenditure or for the disposal of any assets.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is aware of the harm to the environment caused by the concentration of tourists in certain centres such as London; and what action he proposes to take.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration has been given to the effect of mass tourism on the environment; and whether he will make a statement.

I recognise that too many visitors in a small area may cause serious difficulty by overloading the available facilities and creating parking and traffic problems. The particular problems are much in the mind of the local authorities concerned, but part of the answer must be to encourage the taking of holidays away from peak periods and areas of congestion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what applications for assistance he has received, and what steps he is proposing to assist the authorities concerned, in the improvement of canals as an amenity in the West Midlands; and what is the programme for removing the causes of pollutiton affecting these canals.

The future of the remainder waterways in the Birmingham Canal Navigations system is being considered by the British Waterways Board. Control of pollution is a matter for the river authorities concerned with which I understand the board is in close touch.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the contracts will be put out to tender on the A54 Stow market, Needham Market and Claydon bypasses; and if he will now give a date upon which he expects work to begin on these projects.

Subject to completion of the necessary statutory processes tenders of the A45 Stow market/Needham Market/Claydon bypass scheme will be invited this autumn and construction is expected to start in February, 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in view of increasing local concern, if he will now publish the line of the proposed Pudsey-Dishforth road.

No. A decision on whether this project should be put into the trunk road preparation pool will be taken in August or September. If a scheme is then put into preparation, further work would be needed before draft line orders could be published and thereafter there would be the usual opportunities for objections to be made and considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to monitor the social consequences of the Housing Finance Bill, with special reference to the numbers eligible for rent rebates who do not receive them; and whether he will make a statement.

I shall keep a close watch on the progress of concentrating subsidies on those who require help. The Bill's provisions for publicity will be reinforced by a nationwide campaign to inform tenants of their rights to rent rebates and allowances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps the Government is now taking to limit the effects of the Housing Finance Bill on its proposed implementation in October.

Under the Bill each housing authority is required to introduce a rebate scheme for their tenants in accordance with the Bill by 1st October next. On that date a minority of authorities are required to increase the average rents of their dwellings by £1 a week, or a lesser amount if they increased rents in the second half of 1971–72 or received a direction under Clause 62(4).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what percent age of a parking fine imposed by traffic wardens is retained by local authorities.

Parking fines and fixed penalties are in general paid into the Exchequer. I understand that in Scotland only there is a negotiated agreement whereby local authorities retain a part of fixed penalties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking by way of encouraging grants of planning consents in order to increase the number of persons living in villages and in the countryside outside the green belt.

My right hon. Friend outlined in the House on 27th April various measures to encourage release of land for housing in all suitable places subject to the usual restraints upon development, such as the green belt.It is for local planning authorities in the first instance to decide where development is acceptable. If potential developers feel that authorities are unduly restricting individual developments of the kind my hon. Friend has in mind, they are free to appeal to my right hon. Friend who will consider each case on its merits.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects work to begin on the bypass scheme at Ampthill, Bedfordshire.

The programming of this principal road scheme is currently being considered. Until a decision is taken it is not possible to say when work will start.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he proposes to take to improve the quality of design of buildings to be constructed for Government use in central London.

The Department employs its own architects, or consultants, to design Government buildings. The views of local planning authorities are taken fully into account and where appropriate the Royal Fine Art Commission is consulted. The design of buildings erected by private developers is controlled through the planning machinery. I have at present no plans to change these arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to amend town and country planning legislation to give owners of property and owners and occupiers of premises where business is carried on the right to apply, at the outset of planning blight, for a certificate of minimum value equivalent to the market price, including an assessment of goodwill in respect of a business.

All possible ways of alleviating planning blight are being studied in our compensation review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he remains satisfied with the working of the system for the making of improvement grants under the Housing Act, 1969; and if he will make a statement.

I was gratified to see that more grants were approved in England and Wales in May than in any previous month but I hope for an even better rate of progress in the future.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to raise fines to £1,000 per day for each day, against firms which illegally dump industrial waste in rivers, in contrast to the current maximum fine of £500.

My Department expects soon to complete a comprehensive review of penalties under some 20 Acts of Parliament which govern river pollution. I expect this to lead to proposals for a substantial increase in both maximum fines and in daily penalties, but I am not yet in a position to go into details.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take further steps to relax parking restrictions for the disabled and to include within this category those suffering from claustrophobia and agoraphobia.

I am considering ways of improving the parking arrangements available to the disabled, but it does not seem likely that any changes in the regulations will help those suffering from claustrophobia and agoraphobia.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in the light of assurances from his Department given in April, 1972, to the London Borough of Havering, he will now decide to designate the area under the Caravan Sites Act, 1968, in view of the parking facilities provided by the borough, and of the increased number of unauthorised encampments that have arisen.

My right hon. Friend has decided in the light of representations by the Gypsy Council that designation should be deferred for the time being. A letter explaining this is being sent to Havering London Borough Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give a general direction to the British Waterways Board to review its policy of leasing out its holdings of surplus land, rather than selling it, since this policy can deny valuable land for house building, in conflict with his policy for the release of land for housing.

No. The board must be free to judge in the particular circumstances of each case whether to sell or lease. It has both sold and leased surplus land for housing development.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now make a statement on the Government's proposals for the future commercial and recreational use of inland waters.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Acton (Mr. Spearing) on 19th July—[Vol. 841, c. 110.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment to what extent under existing legislation the heavy goods vehicles from the Continent are able to use British roads without road tax licences, insurance and roadworthy test certificates; and why these lorries are allowed to park on restricted areas.

Vehicle excise duty on visiting foreign goods vehicles is remitted under reciprocal arrangements. Such vehicles are exempted from the need for test certificates. There is no waiver of the laws regarding compulsory motor insurance and parking.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to announce his decision whether or not to hold a public inquiry into proposals to enlarge and reroute the North Circular Road in the Borough of Ealing; and if he will give an indication of when it might be held.

There will be a public inquiry which will probably take place in 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how the terms of the exclusion clause in a document provided to Members who park in Broad Sanctuary differ from those terms which apply to Members who park in New Palace Yard or in Old Palace Yard.

No written conditions have ever been issued covering parking in either New Palace Yard or Old Palace Yard and so no comparison can be made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the Government's stated policy in respect of exclusion clauses, he will withdraw the document provided to Members who park in Broad Sanctuary.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the provision of the document containing exclusion clauses and provided to Members who park in Broad Sanctuary was with his authority.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is aware that planning applications submitted to Brackley Rural District Council are being held up or refused on the instructions of his Department because they are affected by the possible route of the proposed M40 Oxford-Birmingham motorway; and whether he will take steps to make an early announcement of the findings of the feasibility study concerned with this project.

Decisions on certain planning applications in the Brackley area cannot be determined until draft orders under the Highways Acts are published on the line of the new Oxford-Birmingham section of the M40 motorway in this locality. As I said in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten) on 12th July, approval has been given for the extension of M40 to be included in the trunk road preparation pool. The proposals will now be developed as quickly as possible and we expect to publish draft orders next year. —[Vol. 840, c. 363.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the number of child road accident casualties reported to his Department for each of the past 10 years, indicating the classification of the roads concerned, and the seriousness of the injury, in the Peters field constituency

The provision of statistics relating to road accidents of a local character is a matter for the local authority but I am writing to my hon. Friend about those on roads for which my Department is responsible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take steps to have placed in the Library details of the proposed new building to be erected adjacent to Apsley House.

I am making arrangements accordingly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many planning permissions for the building of private dwellings have been given in the Greater London Council area since 1965: and how many have been completed.

From 1st April, 1965, to 30th June, 1971, 10,303 planning permissions for private dwellings, excluding conversions, had been granted; 5,907 had been implemented by the end of 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the annual rate at which planning permissions for private dwellings have been granted in the Greater London Council area since 1965; and what has been the annual rate of starts and completions of such dwellings.

The annual rate of these permissions has been:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many dwellings are at present unoccupied in the Greater London Council area on sites for which planning permission has been granted for the building of new private dwellings;(2) how many dwellings are at present unoccupied in the Greater London Council area on sites for which planning permission has been granted for new commercial and office buildings.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many planning permissions for the building of private dwellings have been given in the South-East area, excluding greater London, since 1965; and how many have been completed.

Complete information in the form requested is not available. However, it is estimated that in the South-East, outside London, planning permission was given in the period mid-1969 to the end of March, 1972, for about 157,000 private dwellings. In the same period about 123,000 private dwellings were completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many dwellings are at present unoccupied in the South-East area, excluding greater London, on sites for which planning permission has been granted for the building of new private dwellings;(2) how many dwellings are at present unoccupied in the South-East area, excluding greater London, on sites for which planning permission has been granted for new commercial and office buildings.

This information is not available.

Complete information in the form requested is not available. However, for the South East, outside London, the following are the estimated numbers of dwellings for which planning permission was granted from mid-1969 to the end of March, 1972, together with totals of starts and completions for the relevant periods:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many planning permissions for the building of private dwellings have been given in the City of Westminster since 1965; and how many have been completed.

From 1st April, 1965, to 30th June, 1971, 488 planning permissions for private dwellings, excluding conversions, had been granted; 204 had been implemented by the end of 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the annual rate at which planning permissions for private dwellings have been granted in the City of Westminster since 1965; and what has been the anuual rate of starts and completions of such dwellings.

The annual rate of these permissions has been:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many dwellings are at present unoccupied in the City of Westminster on sites for which planning permission has been granted for the building of new private dwellings;(2) how many dwellings are at present unoccupied in the City of Westminster on sites for which planning permission has been granted for new commercial and office buildings.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek further powers to enable him to prevent the leaving of litter in rural and urban areas.

No. Heavier sanctions against litter offences were introduced by the Dangerous Litter Act, 1971, which came into operation in June, 1971, and raised the maximum penalty from £10 to £100.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much litter was collected last year, to the nearest convenient date, from those open spaces, parks, etc., for which his Department was responsible.

Approximately 25,000 cubic yards of litter and leaves was removed from the Royal Parks and Gardens during 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what he estimates the total acreage of derelict land in the United Kingdom to be, region by region; and how much of this figure is capable of reclamation.

The following information for England derives from the 1970 survey of derelict land carried out by local planning authorities. The results of the 1971 survey are not yet available. Information relating to Northern Ireland and Scotland is a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of Slate for Northern Ireland and Scotland, and to Wales for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he will make part of his funds for National Tree Planting Year, 1973 available for planting trees on railway embankments and other sites adjoining railway tracks;(2) whether he will give a general direction to British Rail to start a tree and shrub planting programme on urban railway embankments and other land adjoining railway tracks in conurbations as part of Tree Planting Year, 1973.

Tree planting by or on behalf or local authorities on land in British Rail or other ownership is already eligible for Exchequer grant in certain circumstances. The Chairman of the British Railways Board has expressed the board's support for the aims of Tree Planting Year and the board's intention to co-operate so far as operational and financial restraints permit. The question of a direction does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress he has now made in seeking the views of local authority associations and staff interests on proposals for a Commission for Local Administration.

The Government's proposals were embodied in a consultation document sent on 15th May to over 100 bodies representing authorities and staff interests in local government. Comments were invited by 7th July. Not all the replies have yet been received but I hope to have the remainder fairly shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the environment if he will give the total value of trunk and principal road schemes, respectively, firmly programmed.

The total value of major road schemes in the firm roads programme as at 1st July, 1972, is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those trunk and principal road schemes, giving the estimated cost of each which were added to the forward programme during the six months ended 31st March, last.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave my hon. Friend on 18th April last.—[Vol. 835, c. 72–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what changes may be required on British entry into the European Economic Community in the present basis for the financing of British Rail; and if he will make a statement.

The present system appears to be compatible with Community regulations, though some changes in detailed procedures may be necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further progress has now been made in the planning and negotiations on the Channel Tunnel project; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to similar Questions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total number of people in the Yorkshire and Humberside Region who were receiving rate rebates during each of the past five years; and what was the total amount for each year and the average rebate.

The information requested in respect of the years 1967–68 to 1970–71 may be obtained from the annual publications "Rate Rebates in England and Wales", copies of which are available in the Library. I have not yet received from all authorities details of rate rebates granted in 1971–72 but information may be obtained from the local authorities concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations in connection with further grant-in-aid from his Department he has had with British Rail concerning the long-term viability of the Portsmouth to Brighton line; what capital investment is necessary to reduce its running costs; and whether he will make a statement.

This service costs well over £1 million a year in grant. The board has been asked to secure some improvement; it does not, I understand, believe that the problem would be solved by further capital investment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what consultations he has had with British Rail in connection with further grant-in-aid given by his Department, concerning the improvement of local train services in the Hampshire area, including the modernisation of Portsmouth and South sea station; and whether he will make a statement;(2) what consultations he has had with British Rail in connection with further grant-in-aid given by his Department concerning the future viability of diesel services in Hampshire; what proposals have been submitted by British Rail for the electrification of remaining non-electrified track in this area; and whether he will make a statement.

These services, like other grant-aided services, are under continual review. No proposals for electrification have been submitted to me. The rebuilding of the station will start this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the discussions which he has had with interested parties consequent on the decision of the Court of Appeal in Buckoke versus the Greater London Council.

I am still considering the widely varying views put to me on this complicated matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether Ministry of Housing and Local Government circular No. 51 of 1964 which indicated that the Minister was prepared to entertain compulsory purchase orders in cases where gross exploitation is causing a threat of homelessness still represents Government policy.

Since circular 51 of 1964 was issued the Rent Acts have greatly increased protection for tenants. But there may be cases where use of compulsory purchase is appropriate to secure the proper management of property.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement concerning the practice of his Department relating to the confirmation of compulsory purchase orders.

To consider each order on its merits.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will issue a circular to local authorities drawing their attention to the provisions of Section 72 of the Housing Act, 1964.

Circular No. 51/64 drew the attention of local authorities to the provisions of Section 72 of that Act.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussion he is having with industry on the use of hard-core detergents which contribute to the foam nuisance and build-up of hard materials in rivers.

Good progress is being made in discussions being conducted both by my Department and the Department of Trade and Industry; but there are complex problems concerned with international trade which need further examination.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied that mineral explorations currently being carried out in England and Wales conform with the requirements of the law; and if he will make a statement.

It is for local planning authorities to satisfy themselves that planning law is observed. Questions about exploration in Wales are for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made by the scientist seconded to his Department to survey the nature and extent of non-agricultural uses of pesticides; and what consideration has been given to dieldrin and DDT in this survey.

Full-time work is now underway by the Department's scientist, and both dieldrin and DDT are included in his survey.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) on what basis he pays the 24 vice-presidents of the provincial rent assessment panels £3,255 per annum for part-time work; how many hours per week or per annum they are employed; and whether they also claim expenses and on what basis;(2) on what basis he pays the three vice-presidents of the London rent assessment panel £4,340 for part-time work. how many hours per week or per annum they are employed; and whether they also claim expenses and on what basis;(3) on what basis he is paying 14 presidents of provincial rent assessment panels £4,340 per annum on a part-time basis; how many hours work they undertake per week or per annum; and whether they also claim expenses and on what basis.

The salary scales quoted by the hon. Member no longer apply. They are £6,000 for provincial vice-presidents, £6,500 for London vice-presidents and £6,750 for provincial presidents, per annum, respectively.The amount of time spent on rent assessment panel work by presidents and vice-presidents varies from one day to five days per week, and they are paid the appropriate fraction of the respective salary scales.Travelling expenses and subsistence allowances are paid at appropriate Civil Service salary scales rates.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a further statement about the six town studies.

I am glad to say that the County Borough Council of Oldham, Rotherham and Sunderland have accepted my invitation to take part in studies for the preparation of urban guidelines, and arrangements are going forward to commission consultants.The purpose of these studies is to help local authorities develop a total approach to the improvement of the urban environment, looking at their towns as a whole. They will be related primarily to the functions for which the new district councils will be responsible from April, 1974. We hope to produce guidance of practical value on inter-relationship between activities and on using available resources to the best effect. I am particularly anxious that we should address ourselves to local authority members—and the public—as much as to local government officers. I hope that we shall receive the reports of the studies in the spring of next year.As the House knows, I propose that the other three studies should be into the environmental problems of inner city areas. I am inviting the Birmingham City Council, the Liverpool City Council and the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth to join with us in these studies.In these studies we shall be looking for possible courses of action on the environmental problems of inner city areas. This will involve practical work on the ground, of which my Department will bear the major part of the cost. We shall try to look at the needs of the study areas as a whole from the point of view of the people living in them and to derive lessons on powers, resources and techniques. The work would extend over several years. The first stage will be to commission project reports which will set out proposals for the practical work in the main studies. We should have these project reports by about the end of the year.In order that the results of these studies will have an immediate effect on ministerial decision-taking I have decided that each of the studies will be chaired by a Minister from my Department. I have allocated the chairmanship of the studies in the following way:Birmingham—Secretary of State for the Environment.Lambeth—The Minister for Housing and Construction.Liverpool—The Minister for Local Government and Development.Oldham—The Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Hall Green (Mr. Eyre).Rotherham—The Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, my hon. Friend the Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Eldon Griffiths).Sunderland—The Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, my hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Mr. Speed).I am grateful to the other local authorities which wrote to offer their co-operation, and regret that I could not bring them all in. It is of course my intention that the outcome of these studies should be useful to local authorities generally.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will ensure that an adequate number or senior posts on the Highland and Islands Development Board are given to men and women who have made their careers in the Highlands and Islands.

The majority of the present members of the board have made their careers wholly or mainly in the Highlands and Islands, but I could not agree to exclude from the board others who can make a major contribution to its work.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will ensure that essential services are maintained to the Scottish Islands in the event of a dock strike.

All possible steps will be taken to avoid hardship being inflicted on these communities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of divorces in Scotland each year for the last 10 years.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of abortions in Scotland each year for the last 10 years.

Information is not available for the period before the Abortion Act, 1967, came into operation on 27th April, 1968. The numbers of abortions notified since that date are:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has received the communication from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, concerning a civil servant within his Department by the name of Mr. George Pottinger; and whether he will publish his reply in the Official Report.

My reply to the hon. Member's letter was overtaken by the answer I was able to give to his Question on 19th July, following clarification of the position by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's statement the previous day.—[Vol. 841, c. 121.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek powers to set up a 24-hour emergency telephone service to provide information and instructions in the event of accidents involving heavy goods vehicles carrying dangerous chemicals, along the lines of the Chemical Manufacturers' Association in the United States of Amercia, details of which have been supplied to him.

The police and fire services have already been notified of arrangements made by Imperial Chemical Industries Limited to provide a 24-hour advisory service on the action to be taken in incidents involving hazardous chemicals. I am consulting the Chemical Industries Association about possible ways of widening this scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the total number of both operational and fire prevention staff employed on fire service duties in the area covered by the London Firefighters Federation.

I understand that membership of the federation is confined to the London Fire Brigade. The Greater London Council tells me that the strength of this brigade on 30th June, 1972 was 4,716.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of the eligible electorate has voted at county borough and county council elections, for the last five years, in Bristol, Bath, Gloucester, Swindon, Plymouth, Exeter, Torbay, Bournemouth, Southampton, Portsmouth, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Hampshire.

Following is the information relating to the years 1967 to 1971:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of convicted prisoners in England, with their names and the prison where they are serving their sentence, who are individually receiving similar special privileges to those which were recently announced for some prisoners in Belfast Prison.