asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many new houses were completed in Scotland in the public and private sectors, respectively, in the year ended 30th September 1972; and if he will make a statement on the Government's immediate plans for housing in Scotland.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the Housing Return for Scotland, 30th September 1972. My aim is to ensure that all housing needs are met, either by the building of new houses or by the improvement of existing houses.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what alterations he plans in the standards of new houses in the public sector.

My right hon. Friend keeps these standards under review and alters them as and when necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses were completed by local authorities in Scotland in each of the first three quarters of 1972; and what were the figures for the corresponding three quarters in 1971 and 1970.

Following is the information:

LOCAL AUTHORITY HOUSE COMPLETIONS
	1970	1971	1972
1st Quarter	5,817	5,272	4,058
2nd Quarter	8,234	5,547	5,506
3rd Quarter	6,661	5,444	2,772

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what amendments he proposes to planning procedures to prevent lengthy public inquiries and the possible loss of new industries to Scotland.

I have no statutory amendments in mind. In Clause 173 of the Local Government (Scotland) Bill I am proposing public examinations of issues raised by structure plans submitted to me, which should be a more expeditious procedure.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people now receive a reduced rent rebate consequent on the implementation of the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1972.

Under Schedule 2 to the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1972, a local authority may grant an additional rebate to any tenant who might otherwise be less favourably treated under the model scheme than he was under the scheme previously operated by the authority. Information is not available centrally for comparing individual rebates before and after the Act, but the provision to which I have referred enables any reduction in rebate entitlement to be avoided or minimised.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his latest estimate of the number of tenants living in private furnished rented accommodation in Scotland who receive rent allowances for the first time.

There are currently estimated to be some 28,000 tenants in privately-owned furnished accommodation in Scotland and a significant number of these will qualify for rent allowances under forthcoming legislation. Because information is not available about the personal circumstances of such tenants, it is not possible to make a precise estimate.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now seek to amend the Housing (Financial Provisions) Scotland Act 1972 to enable all those who previously qualified for rent rebates to continue to do so.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, what is his latest estimate of the number of tenants in private unfurnished rented accommodation who receive rent allowance under the Housing Finance Act for the first time.

There are currently estimated to be some 150,000 tenants in privately-owned unfurnished accommodation in Scotland. A significant number of these will qualify for rent allowance under the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1972. Because information is not available about the personal circumstances of such tenants, it is not possible to make a precise estimate.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the total amount that will be disbursed in rent rebates and rent allowances in Scotland in 1973; and what was the figure for rent rebates in Scotland in 1969.

I estimate that a total of £17 million may be disbursed in 1973–74. The 1969 figure was £1·8 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many tenants of private accommodation will lose their rent allowances because of the refusal of certain local authorities to implement the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1972.

Comprehensive information is not available, because in many areas individual entitlements will not have been assessed. The number of council tenants who are being deprived of more generous rebates under the Act must be considerable, and there are perhaps 100,000 private tenants in the areas of authorites which have said they are not implementing the Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects the inquiries into the housing policies of the four local authorities in breach of the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act to be completed.

Following public local inquiries I issued default orders on 1st December to Glasgow Corporation, Lanark County Council and Falkirk and Kirkcaldy town councils.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many local authorities in Scotland have implemented the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1972, and how many have not.

219 local authorities are implementing the Act. The remainder either have not implemented the Act or are under investigation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what report he has received from the auditors of the county of Lanark local authority concerning alleged illegal expenditure by the authority in connection with the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1972;(2) what reports he has received from the auditors of the county of Lanark local authority about the failure of the authority to observe the law concerning their housing revenue account income.

I have received no interim report in the terms of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1947. The appointed auditor for the County of Lanark informed me by letter on 10th October that the authority had failed to implement those sections of Parts II and IV of the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1972 which required to be implemented on 1st October 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he now proposes to take to compel local authorities to implement the Housing Finance Act.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Perth and East Perthshire (Mr. MacArthur).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which local authorities in Scotland are still refusing to implement the Housing Finance Act.

Glasgow and Falkirk have not so far implemented the Act. The position of the following 13 authorities in relation to implementation is being investigated:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many local authorities in Scotland have been notified that their housing subsidy payments are being withheld; and what further action he proposes to take.

On 6th November, 22 local authorities were notified that I was taking no decision for the present as to the timing of an advance payment of their residual subsidy for the year 1972–73. I said that it would assist me in reaching an early decision if it were established to my satisfaction that they had taken appropriate steps to secure implementation of the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1972. The deferred payments have been or are being made to seven authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will instruct the Forestry Commission to review its forestry property sale policy to take greater account of social factors involved in individual cases.

The Forestry Commission conforms with instructions on the disposal of surplus property common to all Government Departments. It would not be practicable for the commission to discriminate between prospective purchasers on social grounds.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about economic prospects in Scotland in the coming 12 months.

In recent months there has been a marked improvement in the economic outlook for Scotland, underlined by a heartening reduction in the unemployment figures and by an increase in notified vacancies, and this should continue in 1973. The pace of development in the North Sea oilfields is also very encouraging. But in the longer term the health of the Scottish economy will depend on the success of the Government's counter-inflation measures and on the maintenance of a high rate of growth.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he intends to receive representations on matters of educational administration during the passage of the Local Government Reform Bill.

Yes. A consultation document has been sent to the bodies principally concerned and I look forward to receiving their observations as well as those of any other body that may care to approach me. I shall make copies of the document available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many hostels have been provided by local authorities under the 1965 Act for the mentally handicapped.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968. Since its enactment six hostels for the mentally handicapped have been provided and 17 are under construction or planning.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total membership of the regional hospital boards in Scotland; and how many of them were chosen from nominations made by the Scottish Trades Union Congress or individual trade unions.

The total membership is 87 but at present there are three casual vacancies. Twelve of the present members were appointed on the nomination of the Scottish Trades Union Congress. None was nominated by individual trade unions.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent the Scottish Office was involved in the preparation of the report commissioned by the Government by the International Management and Engineering Group of Great Britain into the market for goods and services to exploit offshore oil and gas.

The report was prepared by the consultants who had a number of discussions with officials in my Departments.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied with the rate at which derelict land is being cleared; and if he will make a statement.

In response to my right hon. Friend's call earlier this year for faster progress local authorities have submitted programmes for twice as much work in the next five years as has been done in the past 11 years since Government assistance first became available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now sanction the construction of a direct dual-carriageway from North Ayrshire to the United Kingdom motorway system.

It would be premature to do so without greater clarity about the nature and scale of further development in the area, and therefore about future traffic requirements. Meanwhile, I have no reason to believe that existing roads are inadequate for present needs.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in any reform of feudal law and similar matters, he will seek to ensure that impositions such as scat are abolished but udal rights associated with the foreshore are maintained.

The Green Paper published in July on land tenure reform in Scotland envisaged that scat would be abolished on the same basis as feuduty. It did not suggest any alteration in other features of udal law.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from Fife County Council regarding the delay in borrowing approval for the Burntisland Health Centre, and what replies he has sent.

My right hon. Friend has not received any such representations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now make arrangements to put the sketch plan of Auchinleck health centre on display in the local community centre in order to inform people of the type of building, lay-out, and services which will be provided.

I shall be glad to arrange for this to be done, if it is the wish of the local authority, to whom I shall forward the suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children in care where in the custody of each of the Scottish local authorities in the years 1969, 1970 and 1971.

The information for Scotland is as follows:

	Numbers of children in care of local authorities at dates shown
30th November 1969	10,797
31st December 1970	11,008
31st December 1971	14,766

Since the information for each local authority involves a lengthy table I am sending it to the hon. Member and placing copies in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will request the Scottish Special Housing Association to harmonise its policy on the parking of caravans with those of local authorities in whose areas the Scottish Special Housing Association functions at present.

This is a matter of detailed management within the responsibilities of the association's council of management, and I am drawing the attention of the association to the hon. Member's Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration he is giving to the suggestion of the Association for the Welfare of Children in Hospitals that in certain cases his Department should make payments towards the travelling expenses of parents since parental visits can benefit the treatment of the child.

I am aware of the useful report which the association submitted to my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Social Services. There are existing arrangements for giving help in cases of hardship, and I do not consider I would be justified in seeking to extend them in the way proposed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider advising local authorities to examine the facilities for small recreational areas required in housing areas; and what steps he has taken in this matter since 16th August.

I am taking every opportunity to draw to the attention of local authorities the advice on the provision of recreational areas in housing schemes which is given in the Scottish Housing Handbook; and since 16th August I have approved a number of environmental improvement schemes incorporating play areas for children.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he hopes to complete his examination of possible ways of providing some help for the preservation of churches of outstanding merit, whose congregations have insufficient resources to undertake the task themselves, particularly in relation to finance and priorities; and if he will make a statement.

It will take a year or more to carry out and evaluate the pilot scheme which I announced in reply to a Question from the hon. Gentleman on 19th October.—[Vol. 843, c. 142.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the amount of the annual remuneration which has resulted from the implementation of the report on doctors' and dentists' remuneration, 1972, for doctors in the hospital service in the grades of consultant with A merit award and those with B, C and D awards, consultant on the minimum, and the maximum and minimum for senior hospital medical officers, senior registrars, and registrars.

With effect from 1st April 1972, in implementation of the recommendation of the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration, the minimum and maximum of the salary scales of the grades in question are as follows:

	£	£
	Minimum	Maximum
Consultant	4,836	7,350
Senior Hospital Medical Officer	3,765	5,070
Senior Registrar	3,120	4,146
Registrar	2,634	3,282

In addition to their salary some consultants are eligible for merit awards, also as recommended by the Review Body, at the following rates:

A+	£7,350
A	£5,577
B	£3,273
C	£1,392

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made in preparing proposals to establish an elected Scottish Assembly.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave today to the right hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Grimond).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received in the last three months concerning youth employment; and what steps are being taken to alleviate the problem.

I have received no such representations. The long-term solution to this problem lies not in specifically tailored measures but in the improvement of the economy as a whole, and the Government have initiated substantial reflationary measures to reduce unemployment amongst adults and young people alike. While these are taking effect however various short term schemes have been introduced to help young people.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in the interests of combating inflation, he will now rescind the decision to increase the price of school dinners as from March 1973.

As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science told the hon. Member on 23rd November, this will be among the matters considered in developing the next stage of the Government's policies for countering inflation.—[Vol. 846, c. 455.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the nature of his recent discussions with the Chairman of the British Steel Corporation concerning the future of the steel industry in Scotland.

The chairman and I had an informal exchange of views about the implications for Scotland of the British Steel Corporation's strategic development proposals which are now before the Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place a copy in the Library of his reply to Mr. Robert McClement, General Secretary of the Scottish Schoolmasters' Association, who has written to him.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to the letter of 16th October about teachers' salaries that was sent to all Members representing Scottish constituencies. It was not addressed to me as Secretary of State and I did not therefore reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his meeting with the Scottish Council (Development and Industry) on 8th December.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given today to the hon. Member for Bothwell (Mr. James Hamilton).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to introduce legislation based on the White Paper, Cmnd. Paper No. 4821, dealing with salmon and freshwater fisheries.

As soon as it can be fitted into the parliamentary timetable.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in view of the fact that the reflective concrete kerb on the second section of the M90 motorway no longer reflects, if he will immediately arrange for it to be treated so as to restore its reflective quality.

The reflective quality of these kerbs depends on angled concrete facets at approximately right angles to vehicle headlights, and not on the incorporation of specially reflective material. I am advised that their effectiveness remains unimpaired.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many beds have been provided for the elderly in local authority residential homes in the last year.

So far in 1972, 212 additional places have been provided.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he proposes to take to overcome the shortage of geriatric beds in the Coatbridge and Airdrie area; and if he will make a statement.

I am not aware of a shortage of geriatric beds in the Coatbridge and Airdrie area. On the current basis of planning for hospital geriatric services 116 beds are required; 280 beds are available in the area. The existing accommodation will of course continue to be improved as necessary, and 64 new geriatric beds will be provided in Airdrie District General Hospital, which is at present under construction.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will raise in the Services Committee the matter of giving indemnity to Members whose personal insurance policies may be invalidated in the course of their duties, as when flying in Royal Air Force aircraft during visits to Service establishments.

No, Sir. Members who are travelling in Service aircraft whilst on the business of the House are covered by the House of Commons Insurance Scheme, a copy of which I am sending to my hon. Friend. The provision of insurance cover to Members engaged on other business must remain a matter for the individual Member concerned.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what is the cost of administration for the present rebate scheme for unused portions of television licences.

Payment of refunds, allowed only in a few well-defined categories, is a small part of the work done for me by the Post Office in issuing licences. Its costs cannot be separately identified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in the interval before special roads are available for large lorries in the metropolitan areas, if he will introduce regulations to limit the hours of use such vehicles may make of the roads in city centres so that they cross these towns only in off-peak periods.

Local authorities already have powers to impose this type of restriction if appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many acres of derelict land have been reclaimed in the Dearne Valley constituency over the past five years; and what is the number of acres still to be reclaimed.

184 acres have been reclaimed over the past five years and work is in progress on a further 95. About 238 acres still remain to be reclaimed. A scheme of 20 acres at Denaby is planned to start in 1973 at a cost of £20,000 and one of 10 acres at Cadeby in 1974 at a cost of £14,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many acres of spoil heaps classified as derelict land there are in each region of England; and how many of these justify treatment.

Following is the information:

Region	Total acreage of spoil heaps classified as derelict land as at 31st December 1971	Proportion of total acreage justifying restoration
Northern	5,732	4,579
North West	5,033	4,248
Yorkshire and Humberside	3,470	3,130
East Midlands	2,350	2,241
West Midlands	4,435	4,221
South West	14,133	1,941
East Anglia	3	—
South East	180	170

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many acres of spoil heaps have been treated in each region of England in each of the last five years.

Following is the information:

						Total acreage of spoil heaps restored in the year
Region						1967	1968	1969	1970	1971
Northern	…	…	…	…	…	159	234	282	384	709
North West	…	…	…	…	…	78	60	190	147	203
Yorkshire and Humberside			…	…	…	72	60	39	263	206
East Midlands	…	…	…	…	…	69	40	49	280	263
West Midlands	…	…	…	…	…	168	110	297	226	275
South West	…	…	…	…	…	15	2	17	43	8
East Anglia	…	…	…	…	…	—	—	—	—	—
South East	…	…	…	…	…	—	—	—	2	2

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why he has appointed Alderman Sir Frank Marshall to advise him on the organisation and operation of the proposed development authority connected with the Third London Airport at Foulness; what are his qualifications and what public appointments he has held; whether his appointment will be on a full-time or part-time basis; and whether he will make a statement.

I have appointed Sir Frank Marshall because I believe him to be admirably qualified. Among the main public appointments that he holds, or has held, are the following: Chairman of the Association of Municipal Corporations; member of the Yorkshire and Humberside Economic Planning Council; leader of the Leeds City Council and chairman of its Finance Committee: Vice-Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Centre for Environmental Studies: and Chairman of the Leeds and Bradford Airport. His appointment in connection with the Maplin project is a part-time one.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what number of the representations he has received concerning the Failsworth Golf Course were in favour of, and what number were against, his decision to allow building thereon;(2) what has been the weekly number of representations in connection with his decision to allow building on Failsworth Golf Course since the date of that decision.

In the 20 complete weeks since the decision was issued 13 letters have been received from eight right hon. and hon. Members and 45 letters from other people. In addition 1,696 identical printed postcards have been received. All the letters and postcards from members of the public were opposed to the decision. Only two of the letters from right hon. and hon. Members opposed the decision.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has received a statement setting out errors of fact in relation to the basis for his Department's decision concerning the future of Failsworth Golf Course; and whether he will now reconsider his decision in the light of the further statement.

The Department's decision was based entirely on the evidence given at the public inquiry. There is no question of the decision's being reconsidered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what oral or written assurances he has given to Green-side Development Company concerning his decision to allow building on Fails-worth Golf Course by that company.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will abandon the cost controls on local authority house building programmes, following the changes in the form of housing subsidies on which housing cost yardsticks are based.

The housing cost yardstick is now being applied flexibly in the light of local market conditions. When the effect of these arrangements can be assessed my right hon. and learned Friend will be ready to consider whether changes are needed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on his general policy concerning permission granted to, and investigation of, small building companies in so far as their financial resources are concerned when considering appeals by such companies in relation to building developments to be undertaken by them.

The financial resources of an applicant for planning permission are not normally material to the planning decision and are not therefore considered on appeal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will inquire, through the London Housing Action Group, about the effects on the group's findings of the proposed agreement between the Greater London Council and the London Borough of Bromley concerning public authority building and housing land; and if he will make a statement.

Arrangements are being made for members of the Action Group to visit Bromley in the near future. The form and level of assistance from Bromley towards the solution of London's housing needs will be one of the topics to be discussed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out in detail the precautionary measures to reinforce the foundations of the Big Ben clocktower due to the car park excavations in New Palace Yard.

In June it was decided to stiffen four piers which support the clock tower because a routine maintenance survey in 1971 had shown that the plaster and brickwork of two of them was cracked. The condition is not alarming and where it has been found elsewhere in the Palace of Westminster a similar remedy has been successfully applied. This work which is in hand is not connected with the underground car park.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why he approved the application for a permit by Capital and Counties Property for a site in Shoe Lane, off Fleet Street, E.C.; and if he will make a statement.

This application was approved mainly because a substantial proportion of the office space was for use by a named tenant, and because an office development permit and planning permission had earlier been issued for a further quantity of offices in part replacement of offices previously existing on the site.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what settlement has been recorded at the north end of Westminster Hall; and what are the anticipated limits which the structure will stand without damage.

About 4 mm. Calculations made prior to the construction of the car park led to the conclusion that a vertical movement of up to 25 mm. could be tolerated without detriment to the stability of the structure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he has now given to the recommendations made to him by the North-West Economic Planning Council in its Report entitled "The Social Planning of Urban Renewal"; what action he has taken or is taking; and if he will make a statement.

I welcome the report as a valuable contribution to the study of the need for urban renewal and the means of achieving it.A great deal is in line with action now being taken in my Department, especially that based on the concept of developing a "total approach" to problems of the urban environment. Studies have been commissioned and are in progress in six towns for this purpose, two of them being in the North-West.I agree with the need for a broad conception of a housing authority's rôle and for local residents to be involved in, for example, the creation of general improvement areas.We are planning ways of speeding up slum clearance and redevelopment procedures and of getting the best concentration of resources in areas of housing stress. The problems of blight are recognised in the recent White Paper "Development and Compensation—Putting People First" which sets out—in paragraphs 57 to 64—the steps, including legislation now before the House, that are being taken to minimise its distressing effects.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT those housing authorities in England which are required to make rent increases from 1st April 1973 and indicate, for each authority, the number of dwellings to which the increase will apply; and if he will list those housing authorities which increased rents on 1st April 1972 but are not required to impose further increases in rent in April 1973.

The information asked for in the first part of the Question could only be supplied at disproportionate cost. The answer to the second part is that if any authorities who increased rents in April 1972 have arrived at the fair rent level, they will not have to make a further increase in April 1973. Nor will that very small number of authorities who increased rents in April 1972 but whose increase did not produce £26 per dwelling. Such authorities made a small additional increase in October 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average period of delay currently between the receipt by his Department of an appeal against a local planning authority's refusal to grant planning permission and the date of the local inquiry conducted by a trained inspector; and how this situation compares with past periods.

Thirty-one weeks; a year ago the average period was 25 weeks and 2 years ago, 24 weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is now able to announce his decision concerning the application to site an airfield at Treswithick Farm, near Bodmin, following receipt of the inspector's report of the local inquiry.

I hope to be able to announce my decision shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the other plans for the future of the railway system submitted to his Department by British Rail envisaged a smaller or greater total track mileage of railways in Wales than the plan published in The Sunday Times.

No such plans have been submitted.

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

The committee appointed to inquire into the basis of design and method of erection of steel box girder bridges expects to present its recommendations early in 1973. A number of the recommendations contained in its interim report published in September 1971 have been implemented. Fifty-six bridges are fully opened to traffic; the remaining 19 in service have been safeguarded by traffic restrictions pending completion of strengthening works.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation specifying standards of normal use for all new and remould car tyres and requiring the manufacturers of such tyres to make such products accordingly.

I am considering requirements for marking tyres with speed and load capacities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in the interests of road safety, he will seek powers either to prevent the sale or to have clearly marked the remould quality tyres which are now being sold.

I understand such tyres are already clearly marked.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the future of desalination of water.

The Water Resources Board's report was published yesterday. Having reviewed in depth present desalination techniques, it has concluded that, on the best information now available, desalination cannot be foreseen as making any substantial contribution to the augmentation of water resources in England and Wales before the end of the century. Compared with water from other sources, that produced by desalination is many times more expensive. My right hon. and learned Friend has accepted the board's recommendation that experimental work should continue on new processes and my Department is supporting the development of desalting techniques for water treatment. The Government are also seeking European collaboration in this sphere.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has for future speed limits on the A46 from Widmerpool-Newark-Lincoln; if he will pay regard to the limitations of this road; if he will give the number of fatal and other casualties for each of the past five years; and what proposals he has for its improvement.

Proposals have been published to remove the present 50 m.p.h. speed restriction on those lengths of the A46 between Widmerpool to which it applies, except for short lengths through East Stoke and Farndon; and to extend the present 40 m.p.h. restriction at North Hykeham southwards for approximately 1,400 yards. The limitations of the road have been taken account of in these proposals. The latest available statistics of casualties are as follows:

	Fatal	Serious	Slight
1968	5	36	35
1969	4	36	31
1970	8	33	36
1971	4	28	41
1972	7	32	39

These figures are for a 32-mile length of road excluding the Borough of Newark where no changes in speed limit are proposed.Possible improvements to the A46 from Widmerpool to Newark, including a relief road at Newark, are being investigated. Consideraion is also being given to improvement of the A46/A52 junction at Saxondale. Street lighting is about to be installed from South Hykeham to the Nottinhamshire county boundary and it is proposed to install two additional sets of traffic signals, each with pedestrian crossing facilities, at North Hykeham during 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will seek to amend the Local Government Act 1972 to allow all existing rural district councillors to continue in office until 31st March 1974, leaving single parish rural district councils to conform to Section 43(3) of the 1933 Act and in the case of single parish rural district councils without a separate parish council, to provide for separate elections in later 1973 with a view to the separate parish councils coming into being as from 1st April 1974 and the term of office of such parish councillors to expire in May 1976.

No. The point raised by my hon. Friend was considered in the context of the electoral arrangements provided for in the Local Government Act 1972. It is customary for parish council elections to be held with district council elections, and I do not think there is sufficient grounds for departing from that arrangement on this occasion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment to what extent the proposed plans for motorway development in Manchester will affect green belt and golf course land.

The Northenden, Withington and Didsbury golf courses are affected by the Sale Eastern Bypass (M63) now under construction. In each case the clubs have been able to make satisfactory arrangements for remodelling the courses.In the longer term, the northern section of the proposed outer ring road may affect Pike Fold and Blackley golf clubs.All motorway schemes running outside the built-up areas inevitably cross parts of the proposed green belt in the Manchester area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to empower himself to control all means of road and rail transport.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what organisational changes he is making to deal with Scottish ports matters, particularly the harbour developments needed for North Sea oil exploration.

A branch of my Department's ports directorate will shortly be stationed in Edinburgh. It will work in close co-operation with the Scottish Office and, in conjunction with it and the National Ports Council, will be responsible for the co-ordination of advice to Scottish harbour authorities and others concerned with port developments. The new arrangements will be of particular value in connection with developments in North Sea oil.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will raise the topic of Scottish industry's capability to produce equipment for deep water exploration at the next meeting of the Standing Conference on North Sea Oil.

At the last meeting of the Standing Conference my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry said that Scottish industry is as capable as others of meeting the special requirements of the new customers in the North Sea and is in the best geographical position to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will now make a statement on the future of the steel industry.

No. The Government are urgently considering the proposals put forward by the British Steel Corporation and I shall make a statement as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much of the £50 million made available for the exploration of non-ferrous minerals in Great Britain has been spent to date; and what part of this has been spent investigating the mineral bearing potential of the Continental Shelf.

Work involving assistance of over £1,100,000 has been approved in principle; none of it relates to the Continental Shelf.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether consideration is still being given to the establishment of government research facilities at Peterlee; and if he will make a statement.

When suitable opportunities arise Peterlee is considered as a location for such facilities, along with other places.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the effects of the existing system of proof gallon/wine gallon assessment of duty on spirits in the United States of America on the employment of labour in the Scotch whisky industry.

The present system of assessment of duty on spirits in the United States of America results in a higher incidence of duty on whisky imported in bottle than on imports in bulk. Any estimate of the extent to which the elimination of this difference incidence might increase the proportion of Scotch whisky exported in bottle could only be speculative, but in so far as exports in bottle increased, this would tend to improve employment prospects in bottle and label making and in bottling.I remain concerned at the discrimination against imports of spirits in bottle and will continue to seek the removal of this anomaly.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, from international sources available, he will state the number and location of oil refineries for the supply of low sulphur fuel oil and other products, which are presently under construction in Western Europe.

The construction of new oil refineries or extensions of existing refineries at some 90 sites in Western Europe have been reported as planned or in progress in the past year. Most refining involves the reduction of the sulphur content of the products. The overall European refinery picture is too complex to be easily summarised, and I am sending the hon. Member details from technical publications.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his estimate of the growth in world demand for low sulphur fuel oil over the next decade; and in which markets he expects the greatest growth of demand.

I have made no such estimate. It is difficult to be precise as to where one would expect to see the greatest growth of demand for low sulphur fuel, not least because there is no internationally accepted figure of what level of sulphur allows the definition "low sulphur fuel".

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his estimate of the reserves of economically workable coal accessible to currently working collieries in Scotland, and of unproven reserves and virgin coalfields in Scotland.

The National Coal Board estimates the reserves accessible to currently working collieries in Scotland at about 250 million tons. Unproven reserves and virgin coalfields may contain another 300 million tons.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what studies are being made by the Scottish Development Department about the effects on the coal industry of the discovery of North Sea oil and gas.

My Department makes regular reviews of the commercial prospects for all fuels produced or used in the United Kingdom. In this it works closely with a number of other Departments, including the Scottish Development Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce legislation to make a criminal offence the offering for use of the public tyre pressure gauges which are inaccurate.

No. The accuracy of tyre pressure gauges is specified in British Standards 4613: 1970 which also recommends regular accuracy checks. It is open to those concerned to use instruments complying with this Standard in inflating tyres to the correct pressure. The Trade Descriptions Act gives protection against the supply of instruments described as conforming to this Standard but which do not conform: I have no evidence which shows that additional legislation would be useful.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, in view of the length of the strike by 14 members of the ETPT Union in Bootle and its effect on unemployment, if he will recommence talks with the men on strike and other interested persons with a view to ending this stoppage.

It would not be appropriate in the existing circumstances for my right hon. Friend to intervene in this unofficial and unconstitutional dispute. He would urge the electricians involved to return to normal working- so that the matter can be dealt with through the industry's own machinery within the Joint Industry Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, in view of the importance of the development work on the advanced passenger train, what steps he has taken since July, or proposes to take, to endeavour to settle the industrial

	Extractive industries (Orders I and II of the Standard Industrial Classification)	Manufacturing Industries (Orders III to XIX)	Other industries and Services (Orders XXV to XXVII)	Total, all industries and Services (Orders I to XXVII)
Part 1—Counties
Zetland	0·6	1·4	3·5	5·5
Orkney	0·5	0·5	3·2	4·2
Caithness and Sutherland	1·4	1·4	10·8	13·6
Inverness-shire, Ross and Cromarty	3·4	7·0	34·0	44·3
Argyll	2·0	1·7	12·8	16·5
Moray and Nairn	2·1	3·6	12·4	18·1
Banffshire	2·1	2·9	5·5	10·5
Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire	11·0	38·7	81·7	131·4
Angus	4·9	50·1	61·5	116·5
Perthshire	4·7	6·7	27·5	38·9
Fife and Kinross-shire	14·6	41·7	62·1	118·4
Edinburgh and Lothians	17·6	82·5	203·7	303·8
Stirling and Clackmannanshire	4·1	40·8	54·7	99·7
Dunbartonshire	0·5	40·6	37·8	78·9
Renfrewshire	0·6	68·7	63·7	133·0
Lanarkshire	4·7	102·0	105·2	211·9
Ayrshire and Bute	10·6	53·8	69·0	133·5
Dumfriesshire	2·8	8·6	18·9	30·3
Wigtownshire and Kirkcudbrightshire	3·4	2·8	10·4	16·6
Berwickshire, Peebleshire, Selkirk and Roxburghshire	4·9	14·6	18·2	37·7
Part 2—Cities
Glasgow City	2·2	154·6	291·7	448·5
Edinburgh*	2·2	48·8	159·1	210·0
Aberdeen*	5·1	29·4	65·8	100·3
Dundee*	0·9	40·5	46·3	87·7
* Included also in the appropriate county figures in Part 1.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of disabled employees in local government service in Scotland, manual and non-manual; and what percentage this is of the total establishment.

I regret that the information is not available.

I have been asked to reply.This is a matter for the Railways Board and the Unions.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the major types of trade and industry in each county and each city in Scotland.

The following table shows estimates of the numbers of employees in these areas at June 1971 analysed by broad industry groups:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is yet in a position to make a statement on the future of the Youth Employment Service.

No, but as my right hon. Friend indicated on 22nd November he hopes to be able to make an announcement fairly soon.—[Vol. 846, c. 1296.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment on what date the report of the Commission on Industrial Relations on industrial relation training is to be published; and what is the Government's attitude to the report.

The report is being published today.The Government welcome this study of a subject of considerable importance for the improvement of industrial relations. The report is based on extensive and detailed inquiry into the nature and extent of industrial relations training as well as careful appraisal of work being done in this field by the organisations which provide training. It concludes that there is insufficient training in industrial relations, that much of what is done is not practical enough and that more attention should be given to training for collective bargaining.The report makes recommendations not only to the Government but to employers, employers' associations and the CBI, to trade unions and the TUC, to industrial training boards and various bodies in the educational field, and all these organisations will now wish to consider the recommendations which concern them. I believe that the Practical Guide for Unions and Employers prepared by the commission, which is also being published today, will be particularly helpful in this respect.My Department and other Departments concerned are studying what should be done in the light of the report to stimulate improved industrial relations training, and will be consulting other interested bodies as may be necessary. I agree with the suggestion in the report that when it is set up the Manpower Services Commission will be the right body to take on the task of securing better industrial relations training, but action will not be held up meanwhile.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he is holding about the acceptability of British breeds of beef cattle within the Common Market; and if he will make a statement.

The EEC Commission has under consideration a draft directive aimed at increasing the scope for intra-Community trade in pure-bred cattle for breeding. Broadly the directive will require member countries to ensure free movement—subject only to normal veterinary controls—where animals of listed breeds meet prescribed standards. Officials of the agricultural Departments are in touch with the Commission on the United Kingdom breeds which should be covered by the directive and the related standards for them. We shall continue to consult closely with the livestock industry on the progress of these discussions.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Staffordshire.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Staffordshire.

Suspicion of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease among pigs at Marston near Yarlett, Staffordshire, was first reported on the morning of 11th December. Following an initial inspection by a Ministry veterinary officer restrictions on movements of all animals in a five-mile area were imposed immediately. All pigs showing symptoms were slaughtered in the late afternoon and an Infected Area Order was made restricting movement within a wider area. The remaining animals were slaughtered that night and the following morning. A second outbreak confirmed on 12th December was on premises at Walsall to which pigs from the original farm had been moved on 4th December.A control centre under the charge of the Regional Veterinary Officer was set up on 11th December. The tracing of movements on and off the premises where the two outbreaks have occurred is in progress and the infected area has been extended to cover movements of animals through local markets. All organisations concerned in the area were alerted at the outset. Booklets giving details of symptoms, precautions and regulations which apply in an infected area have been sent to all farmers in the infected area. An epidemiological team was assembled on 11th December and is in operation. Additional veterinary staff have been posted to the area. It is not possible at this stage to forecast the likely development of the disease nor to indicate its origin.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many drug manufacturers are now supplying the National Health Service with tetracycline and similar broad spectrum antibiotics: and if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the dates and prices fixed under the voluntary price regulation scheme.

There are at least 21 drug manufacturers now supplying tetracycline or oxytetracycline products alone or in combination with other drugs.Listing the many and various prices of all the products at different dates would involve disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now reconsider his policy regarding the overpayment made in previous years by the National Health Service for drugs purchased from manufacturers which have parent companies in the United States of America, where, as a result of recent law suits in the United States of America, substantial sums have been now repaid.

The position remains as I stated in my reply to the hon. Member's questions on 21st January.—[Vol. 829, c. 287–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many British pensioners are living in other countries; and if he will categorise the countries in which they live and the number per country.

Following is the information as at 31st December 1971 in respect of persons abroad receiving British national insurance widows or retirement pensions:

Country	Number of Pensioners
Andorra	8
Antilles	1
Argentina	93
Austria	535
Australia	40,205
Bahamas	95
Bahrein	3
Barbados	127
Belgium	819
Bermuda	161
Bolivia	4
Borneo	1
Botswana	5
Brazil	92
British Honduras	4
Bulgaria	5
Burma	4
Cameroon	1
Canada	15,952
Channel Islands:
Guernsey	2,022
Jersey	3,053
Sark	45
Chile	15
China	6
Colombia	5
Cook Islands	2
Costa Rica	2
Cuba	3
Cyprus	540
Czechoslovakia	18
Denmark(including Faröe Isles)	61
Dominican Republic	10
Ecuador	7
Egypt	18
Ethiopia	14
Falkland Islands	7
Fiji	17
Finland	10
France	1,946
Gambia	5
Germany West	2,388
Germany East	1
Ghana	25
Gibraltar	117
Gilbert and Ellice Islands	1
Greece	181
Guatemala	2
Guyana	43
Hong Kong	122
Hungary	37
Iceland	8
India	599
Indonesia	5
Iran	21
Iraq	3
Irish Republic	17,511
Israel	642
Italy	2,013
Jamaica	949
Japan	30
Jordan	2
Kenya	310
Kuwait	4
Lebanon	13
Lesotho	9
Liberia	4
Libyan Arab Republic	6