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Written Answers

Volume 853: debated on Wednesday 21 March 1973

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Written Answers To Questions

Wednesday 21st March 1973

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Middle East

4.

Mr. Iremonger

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support has been given by the United Kingdom delegation to the United Nations to motions favouring Arab hostility to the State of Israel; and if he will ensure that in future Arab attacks on Israel are condemned by the United Kingdom delegation and that acts in defence of Israel are supported.

Lord Balniel

The policy of Her Majesty's Government is to do all they can to help towards a peaceful settlement in the Middle East on the basis of Security Council Resolution 242. This policy governs their attitude to United Nations resolutions and to acts of violence in the area. As such acts cannot contribute to a peaceful settlement we deplore them, whatever their source.

Vietnam

14.

Mr. Dykes

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on the progress of the cease-fire in Vietnam and the associated agreements; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Anthony Royle

The agreement is only gradually being put into effect and there are still numerous violations. But prisoners are being released and talks have begun in Paris between the two South Vietnamese parties on the formation of a National Council for Reconciliation and Concord. The implementation of the Vietnam Agreement including the cease-fire provisions is of course a matter for the parties concerned.

34.

Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he hopes to recognise the Government of North Vietnam.

Mr. Anthony Royle

I have nothing to add to what I told the House on 5th March.—[Vol. 852, c. 32-6.]

Preferences (Eec Agreement)

18.

Mr. Body

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, following his discussions in Brussels on 5th March, which countries will be required to grant reverse preferences in their bilateral agreement with the EEC; and what criteria will be used.

Mr. John Davies

No conclusions were reached at the meeting of the Council of Ministers on 5th March about the basis upon which new agreements would be negotiated with Mediterranean countries. Discussions with our partners are continuing with a view to giving effect to decisions reached at the summit meeting in Parist last October.

Student Exchanges

25.

Sir D. Dodds-Parker

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in arranging exchanges of students; and how they are to be selected.

Mr. Kershaw

Short-term exchanges of students have been developing within the youth exchange provisions in the programme of cultural contact with Western Europe announced by my right hon. and learned Friend the then Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 6th March 1972. Grants are made to reputable organisations which make their own selections.—[Vol. 832, c. 222–4.]

European Economic Community (Regional Development)

26.

Dr. Dickson Mabon

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the outcome of his discussions on 9th March 1973 with Mr. George Thomson the EEC Commissioner responsible for regional development.

Mr. John Davies

My right hon. Friend and I, together with some of our ministerial colleagues, had wide-ranging discussions with Mr. Thomson on various aspects of Community affairs, and particularly on regional development. This was a most useful visit.

Turkey

29.

Mr. Peter Archer

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will refer to the European Commission on Human Rights the use of torture by the Government of Turkey.

Developing Countries

30.

Mr. Judd

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a progress report on the consultations he has now held with fellow EEC member countries on the coordination of aid and trade policies towards the developing countries.

31.

Mr. Hugh Jenkins

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what specific proposals he is putting to his EEC partners to ensure that the needs of all developing countries will be taken into consideration in future European Community policies.

Mr. Wood

Discussions of the Community's aid and trade policies towards the developing countries are now taking place in the High Level Group on Development Co-operation. We are taking part in these discussions. The group will report to the Council of Ministers by 1st May on the implementation of the objectives set out in the summit communique of last October.

South Africa (Arms Supply)

32.

Mr. Wall

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has now received requests for the supply of maritime arms for the defence of the Cape route from the Government of South Africa.

Sir Alec Douglas-Home

As I told the House on 12th July 1971, I will inform it of any decision to supply maritime arms to South Africa. The position remains that no orders have been received.—[Vol. 821, c. 20–22.]

Pakistan And Bangladesh (Internees)

33.

Sir R. Thompson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of his efforts in co-opera- tion with the Governments of Pakistan and Bangladesh to expedite the exchange of civilian internees at present under detention in these two countries.

Lord Balniel

Her Majesty's Government have not been involved in the proposed exchanges of civilians on the subcontinent, which are being arranged mainly by the International Committee of the Red Cross.

South Africa (British Firms)

35.

Mr. David Steel

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set up a unit in the United Kingdom consular office in South Africa to advise British firms on the treatment of employees in South Africa regarding their wage rates.

Lord Balniel

No. Such advice is already available to companies which seek it as part of the normal services offered by our commercial representatives in South Africa and the Export Services staff of the Department of Trade and Industry in London.

Rhodesia

Mr. Whitehead

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has concerning the arrest and detention of Mr. Charlton Ngcebetsha and Mr. Arthur Chadzingwa in Rhodesia.

Lord Balniel

I understand Mr. Ngcebetsha and Mr. Chadzingwa were placed in detention by the Rhodesian authorities on 26th February, under their Emergency Powers Act. The Rhodesians have indicated that the detentions were made for security reasons and that the cases will be brought before their Judicial Review Tribunal.

Mr. Hugh Jenkins

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take action in pursuance of his policy to uphold sanctions against Rhodesia in connection with the British registered ship "La Chacra" which sailed from Mozambique to Detroit with a cargo of Rhodesian ferro-chrome silicon.

Lord Balniel

Inquiries are being made into an allegation that a British registered vessel transported Rhodesian ferro-chrome to the United States of America. These inquiries are being actively pursued, but I cannot forecast their result.

Lesotho

Mr. Wall

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about future aid to Lesotho.

Mr. Wood

I discussed with representatives of the Lesotho Government last November the contribution by Her Majesty's Government to Lesotho's development during the three years 1973–74 to 1975–76. I made an offer of continuing British aid, which has since been formally accepted by the Government of Lesotho. Subject to the annual provision of funds by Parliament, Her Majesty's Government will provide a capital aid grant of up to £7 million over the period, to be used for development projects agreed by the two Governments. Technical assistance services, including training, will continue to be provided at levels to be determined annually.

Environment

River Pollution (Yorkshire)

37.

Mr. David Clark

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the level of pollution in rivers in Yorkshire has deteriorated since the 1959 survey; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

Data was supplied in 1958 by the staff of the then river boards for an informal survey of river pollution on the understanding that details for individual river boards would not be published. Since then, reports of the more thorough and exact survey of 1970 and the updating of that survey in 1972 have been published. The latter shows a slight overall improvement since 1970, in terms of the chemical classification of mileages of rivers in the area of Yorkshire River Authority.

Countryside

38.

Mr. Blenkinsop

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission to study the state of the countryside, to consider the changes that are taking place and their consequences, and to recommend its future planning as a resource for production and recreation, and as an area for satisfactory living.

Mr. Graham Page

My right hon. and learned Friend is at present, in consultation with other Ministers, studying the recently published report by the Committee for Environmental Conservation in which this recommendation is made.

Improvement Grants

39.

Mr. Milne

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the operation of the discretionary and improvement grant scheme in the Blyth constituency and the Northern Region, giving details of the number of houses improved by grants in the following categories: owner-occupiers, private landlords, local authorities and private development property firms.

Mr. Eyre

Progress has been very encouraging. Last year the number of grants approved in the region was 121 per cent. more than in the previous year and 302 per cent. more than in 1970. The information is not available in the form requested, but the relevant figures are as follows:

Number of Grants Approved in Northern Region in 1972 by Tenure
Local authorities……28,576
Housing associations……2,108
Owner-occupiers……18,229
Other tenures……7,591
All owners……56,504
Number of Grants Approved in Blyth Constituency in 1972
Local authorities……1,295
Housing associations……Nil
Owner-occupiers……708
Other tenures……190
2,193

Railways (Season Ticket Refunds)

40.

Sir Bernard Braine

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of the disruption in rail services, he will give a general direction to British Railways to make refunds of season tickets covering all days on which either no service or a reduced service was provided.

Mr. Peyton

No, this is a matter for British Rail, which I am advised will consider sympathetically all genuine applications for refunds or extensions.

Housing Cost Yardsticks

41.

Mr. Leadbitter

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has had from the Association of Municipal Corporations and local authorities in respect of the unit cost yardstick limitations on local authority house building; and what replies he has sent.

Mr. Eyre

Last October the local authority associations were invited to submit their views on the future of cost control of local authority housing schemes. Their suggestions are being considered. My hon. Friend has just been asked to receive a deputation from the Association of Municipal Corporations.

Provisional Driving Licences

Mr. Money

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he is satisfied with the present working of the computer system at Swansea for the issue nationally of provisional driving licences; and whether he will make a statement;(2) what is the current waiting period between an application by a member of the public for a provisional driving licence in the Ipswich area and its issue.

Mr. Stainton

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he is aware that new drivers in the Ipswich area are having to wait several weeks for provisional driving licences; and how this compares with other parts of the country;(2) what delays are generally being experienced by new drivers in obtaining provisional driving licences; and whether he will investigate the computer system at Swansea to ensure that these delays are eliminated at an early date.

Mr. Peyton

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre began operations on 1st March. I hope that once the new system is fully run in applications will be cleared within five days. This does not, of course, include time in the post. Unfortunately, industrial action is causing significant delays. New drivers who require a first provisional licence should therefore take advantage of the provision that allows them to apply up to two months in advance. I very much regret the inconvenience that the delays must cause.

Goldenhill, Stoke-On-Trent

Mr. Forrester

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce his decision on the Goldenhill, Stoke-on-Trent, Comprehensive Development Area proposals which were the subject of a public inquiry in August 1972.

Mr. Graham Page

The comprehensive development area proposals for Goldenhill, Stoke-on-Trent, were approved on 11th March 1969. The inquiry in August 1972 concerned a compulsory purchase order for land within the comprehensive development area. It is expected that the decision will be issued within three to four weeks.

Housing

43.

Mr. Urwin

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many houses were completed in the Northern Region in the private and public sector in each year from 1963 to 1973; and what is the number of new starts in 1973.

Mr. Eyre

Figures for 1963 to 1966 can be found in Housing Statistics No. 7 (page 12) and for 1967 to 1971 in Housing and Construction Statistics 3 (page 26); copies of both publications are available in the Library.Reported completions in 1972 numbered 11,414 in the private sector and 8,147 in the public sector; the corresponding figures for January 1973 were 1,150 and 619 completions and there were 2,047 private sector and 844 public sector starts in that month.

Mr. Urwin

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, of the total of new houses provided since 1963, how many have been built in each year by local authority direct labour departments and by contractors, respectively, by region.

Mr. Channon

The numbers of dwellings completed for local authorities by direct labour and by contractors are given in the following table:

DWELLINGS COMPLETED FOR LOCAL AUTHORITIES: ENGLAND AND WALES

Region

1963

1964

1965

1966

1967

1968

1969

1970

1971

1972

(i) Built by direct labour:
Northern……2,2512,8342,7272,2852,7462,3461,2451,6461,4311,273
Yorkshire and Humberside……1,1681,4723,8111,6971,9831,5021903,1,4611,2071,077
NorthWest……3,0442,7052,7241,8732,6842,6582,0791,8511,9881,428
East Midlands……475561457270447396437456330104
West Midlands……6888532081,0721,136661697374209293
EastAnglia……2302692174787152118913380113
Bedfordshire/Essex/Hertfordshire……32115186169168
Greater London……2,2661,6001,9192,6422,4333,0383,5543,4772,7122,303
South Eastern Counties……1071101421087565669310352
Southern Counties……14—169713716113413738
SouthWest……56359224810318765412629
Wales……3015594591875323113393225159
ENGLAND AND WALES……10,60010,99812,75711,55712,51211,48810,5179,8248,4877,037
(ii) Built by contractors:
Northern……5,1346,7627,3297,1489,11111,62410,9857,9037,6555,572
Yorkshire and Humberside……10,19013,13013,10715,68616,13914,24012,63810,7268,4927,998
NorthWest……11,79715,41616,67019,18116,40815,84016,59819,26914,90612,406
East Midlands……4,4315,1124,9855,7327,8117,6346,6126,8745,9305,830
West Midlands……11,60013,23816,28414,03122,28017,77717,58813,89010,6655,674
East Anglia……6,4377,7738,12912,25512,2634,6314,2453,6163,6523,117
Bedfordshire/Essex/Hertfordshire……6,2155,6395,3484,6464,042
Greater London……12,04812,87515,86317,21719,89919,60719,45923,75820,43016,730
South Eastern Counties……4,4936,2316,5347,2107,7957,6606,1055,1915,1063,994
Southern Counties……5,5307,2229,46410,3919,3368,7547,9146,8105,8225,557
SouthWest……5,0177,6778,3058,9418,8447,9066,6485,8276,7985,179
Wales……5,9888,1508,2908,4419,7888,0347,6866,4205,2283,343
ENGLAND AND WALES……82,665103,586114,960126,233139,674129,922122,117115,63299,33079,442

Rent Rebates (Widows)

42.

Mrs. Doris Fisher

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will grant-aid the extra rebate granted should an authority resolve to disregard any part of normal widows' pension for the purpose of rent rebate; and if he will make a statement.

Council House Sales

Mr. Grylls

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish details of all those local authorities that have not offered council houses and flats for sale to sitting tenants.

Mr. Channon

In 1972 46 per cent. of local authorities in England and Wales sold dwellings as against 31 per cent. in 1971. Annual details of sales by local authority area are published in "Local Housing Statistics: England and Wales". Issue No. 21 of February 1972 contains the details for 1971 and the 1972 details will appear in the February 1973 issue which is expected to be published very shortly.

Mr. Loveridge

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to make certain that council tenants who wish to purchase the homes in which they live cannot be denied the opportunity to obtain mortgages in order to do so on grounds of age, in view of the fact that the security lies in the value of the property to be purchased and not in the age or youth of the occupants of the property.

Mr. Channon

This is a matter for the discretion of individual lending institutions. I would hope that mortgagees, whether local authorities or otherwise, would act in as reasonable and helpful a manner as possible and that they will bear in mind the desirability of helping older as well as younger council tenants to buy the houses in which they live.

Mr. Loveridge

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek powers designed to ensure that in the coming 12 months at least four times as many tenants of public authority houses are able to purchase their homes each year as occurred in 1972, when 1 per cent. bought their homes.

Mr. Channon

I share my hon. Friend's wish that more tenants should be given the opportunity to buy their homes. 621 local authorities in England and Wales sold houses in 1972 compared with 426 in 1971 and 244 in 1970. Local authorities reported sales of 6,674 houses in January 1973, the highest monthly total on record. I hope that this progress will be maintained without the need for further powers to be taken by my right hon. and learned Friend.

Third Thames Crossing

Mr. Trew

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the terms of reference of the consultants appointed to consider a third Thames crossing; and when he expects to receive their report.

Mr. Peyton

The study was set up to establish the possible need, timing and location for a crossing of the River Thames to the east of Dartford. The report is expected by the end of 1974.

Sub-Standard Houses (Newark)

43.

Mr. Bishop

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the numbers of dwellings in the Newark constituency without piped water, flush sanitation, and electricity, respectively.

Third London Airport Directorate

Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state the names and organisations of those on the Third London Airport Directorate, the functions of the directorate and its relationship to the proposed Maplin Development Authority.

Mr. Rippon

The Third London Airport Directorate is a multi-disciplinary group, within DOE, responsible for coordinating all aspects of the Maplin project. It is staffed by officials of the Department, DTI, BAA, Essex County Council and Southend Borough Council. It has close working contacts with the other Government Departments and the main agencies involved such as the BAA, CAA, PLA, HRS, Nature Conservancy, and so on. Until such time as the Maplin Development Authority is operational the directorate is also responsible for planning and supervising the civil engineering studies which are a necessary preliminary to reclamation work.

National Library

Mrs. Lena Jeger

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish the proposed plans for the National Library in Bloomsbury; and what is his most recent estimate of the cost of the buildings, compensation to displaced businesses and rehousing of residents.

Mr. Channon

Design proposals for the British Library are now being examined in detail. As these are inevitably very complex it is too early yet to say when they will be published or what the cost would be.

Vehicle Drivers (Mortality)

Mr. Tope

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many drivers have died at the wheel from natural causes in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and in how many of these cases an accident involving a third party has subsequently occurred.

Mr. Peyton

This information is not available in the form requested. Evidence collected by the Transport and Road Research Laboratory suggests that about one-half of 1 per cent. of fatal and serious injury accidents follow drivers being taken ill suddenly.

Local Authority Mortgages

Mr. Stainton

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will reconsider the contents of Circular 39/72 so that commencing with 1973–74 local authority advances for house purchases may be extended to single women and elderly people without reference to his Department for specific approval to meet a special area need.

Mr. Channon

I am considering the arrangements for local authority mortgage lending for 1973–74 following a meeting between representatives of the Department and the local authorities.

Channel Tunnel

Mr. Roger White

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the proposed Green Paper on the Channel Tunnel will be published.

Water And Sewerage

Mr. Spearing

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will tabulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT, under the headings of each of the proposed new counties and metropolitan counties, the names of the existing statutory water undertakers, and existing sewerage authorities within each of those areas, distinguishing by asterisk those bodies whose significant operational area lies in two or more of the proposed local authorities.

Mr. Graham Page

The information is set out in the table below:METROPOLITAN COUNTIES

Greater Manchester

Statutory Water Undertakers

  • *Bolton CBC
  • *Makerfield WB
  • *Manchester CBC
  • *Stockport & District WB
  • West Pennine WB

Sewerage Authorities

  • Stalybridge & Dukinfield Joint Sewerage Board
  • Leigh and Atherton Joint Sewerage Board
  • Bolton & District Joint Sewerage Board

County Boroughs:

  • Wigan
  • Bolton
  • Bury
  • Rochdale
  • Salford
  • Manchester
  • Oldham
  • Stockport

Boroughs:

  • Leigh
  • Farnworth
  • Prestwich
  • Radcliffe
  • Heywood
  • Middleton
  • Eccles
  • Swinton & Pendlebury
  • Altrincham
  • Sale
  • Stretford
  • Dukinfield
  • Hyde
  • Stalybridge
  • Ashton-under-Lyne
  • Mossley

Urban Districts:

  • Abram
  • Aspull
  • Atherton
  • Hindley
  • Ince in Makerfield
  • Orrell
  • Standish with Langtree
  • Tyldesley
  • *Ashton in Makerfield
  • *Golborne
  • *Billinge & Winstanley
  • *Turton
  • Blackrod
  • Horwich
  • Kearsley
  • Little Lever
  • Westhoughton
  • Tottington
  • Whitefield
  • *Ramsbottom
  • Littleborough
  • Milnrow
  • Wardle
  • Irlam
  • Worsley
  • Chadderton
  • Crompton
  • Failsworth
  • Lees
  • Royton
  • Saddleworth
  • Bowdon
  • Hale
  • Urmstone
  • Bredbury & Romiley
  • Cheadle & Gatley
  • Hazel Grove & Bramhall
  • Marple
  • Longdendale
  • Audenshaw
  • Denton
  • Droylsden

Rural Districts:

  • *Wigan
  • *Bucklow

Merseyside

Statutory Water Undertakers

  • Liverpool CBC
  • St. Helens CBC
  • *Widnes BC
  • *Wirral WB
  • *West Lancashire WB

Sewerage Authorities

Rimrose Brook Joint Sewerage Board

County Boroughs:

  • Bootle
  • Southport
  • Liverpool
  • St. Helens
  • Birkenhead
  • Wallasey

Boroughs:

  • Crosby
  • Bebington

Urban Districts:

  • Formby
  • Litherland
  • Haydock
  • Newton le Willows
  • Rainford
  • *Billinge & Winstanley
  • *Ashton in Makerfield
  • Huyton with Roby
  • Kirkby
  • Prescot
  • Hoylake
  • Wirral

Rural Districts:

  • *West Lancashire *Whiston

South Yorkshire

Statutory Water Undertakers

  • *Barnsley CBC
  • *Doncaster and District JtWB
  • Rawmarsh UDC
  • Rotherham CBC
  • Sheffield CBC
  • Wortley RDC

Sewerage Authorities

County Boroughs:

  • Barnsley
  • Doncaster
  • Sheffield
  • Rotherham

Urban Districts:

  • Cudworth
  • Darfield
  • Darton
  • Dearne
  • Dodworth
  • Hoyland Nether
  • Penistone
  • Royston
  • Wombwell
  • Worsbrough
  • Adwick-le-Street
  • Bentley with Arksey
  • Conisbrough
  • Mexborough
  • Tickhill
  • Stocksbridge
  • Maltby
  • Rawmarsh
  • Swinton
  • Wath upon Dearne

Rural Districts:

  • *Hemsworth
  • Wortley
  • Doncaster
  • Thorne
  • *East Retford
  • *Worksop
  • Kiveton Park
  • Rotherham

Tyne and Wear

Statutory Water Undertakers

  • *Sunderland and South Shields W Co.
  • *Tynemouth CBC

Sewerage Authorities

  • Tyneside Joint Sewerage Board
  • Washington N.T. Dev. Corp.

County Boroughs:

  • Newcastle upon Tyne
  • Tynemouth
  • Gateshead
  • South Shields
  • Sunderland

Boroughs:

  • Wallsend
  • *Whitley Bay
  • Jarrow

Urban Districts:

  • Gosforth
  • Newburn
  • Longbenton
  • *Seaton Valley
  • Blaydon
  • Felling
  • Ryton
  • Whickham
  • Boldon
  • Hebburn
  • Houghton le Spring
  • Hetton
  • Washington

Rural Districts:

  • *Castle Ward
  • *Chester le Street
  • *Easington

West Midlands

Statutory Water Undertakers

  • *Birmingham CBC
  • *Coventry CBC
  • *Wolverhampton CBC
  • *South Staffordshire WWCo

Sewerage Authorities

  • Upper Stour Main Drainage Authority
  • Upper Tame Main Drainage Authority

County Boroughs:

  • Wolverhampton
  • Walsall
  • Dudley
  • Warley
  • West Bromwich
  • Birmingham
  • Solihull
  • Coventry

Boroughs:

  • Halesowen
  • Stourbridge
  • Sutton Coldfield

Urban Districts:

Aldridge-Brownhills

Rural Districts:

* Meriden

West Yorkshire

Statutory Water Undertakers

  • Bradford CBC
  • Calderdale WB
  • Huddersfield CBC
  • *Leeds CBC
  • Mid Calder WB
  • *Pontefract, Goole & Selby WB
  • *Rombalds WB
  • Wakefield & District WB
  • *Barnsley CBC
  • *Claro WB

Sewerage Authorities

  • Luddenden Foot Joint Sewerage Board
  • Hebden Bridge Joint Sewerage Board
  • Horley and South Crosland Joint Sewerage Board

County Boroughs:

  • Bradford
  • Ixeds
  • Halifax
  • Dewsbury
  • Huddersfield
  • Wakefield

Boroughs:

  • Keighley
  • Morley
  • Pudsey
  • Brighouse
  • Todmorden
  • Batley
  • Spenborough
  • Castleford
  • Ossett
  • Pontefract

Urban Districts:

  • Aireborough
  • Garforth
  • Horsforth
  • Otley
  • Rothwell
  • Elland
  • Hebden Royd
  • Ripponden
  • Sowerby Bridge
  • Queensbury in Shelf
  • Colne Valley
  • Denby Dale
  • Stanley
  • Normanton
  • Knottingley
  • Horbury
  • Hemsworth
  • Featherstone
  • Mirfield
  • Meltham
  • Kirkburton
  • Holmfirth
  • Heckmondwike

Rural Districts:

  • *Osgoldcross
  • *Hemsworth
  • Wakefield
  • Hepton
  • *Wharfedale
  • *Wetherby
  • *Tadcaster

NON-METROPOLITAN COUNTIES

Avon

Stautory Water Undertakers

  • Bath CBC
  • *Bristol WWCo

Sewerage Authorities

County Boroughs:

  • Bristol
  • Bath

Boroughs:

Weston-super-Mare

Urban Districts:

  • Kingswood
  • Mangotsfield
  • Clevedon
  • Portishead
  • Keynsham
  • Norton-Radstock

Rural Districts:

  • *Thornbury
  • Warmley
  • Long Ashton
  • *Axbridge
  • Bathavon
  • *Clutton

Bedfordshire

Stautory Water Undertakers

Bedfordshire WB

Sewerage Authorities

County Boroughs:

Luton

Boroughs:

  • Bedford
  • Dunstable

Urban Districts:

  • Kempston
  • Ampthill
  • Biggleswade
  • Sandy
  • Leighton-Linslade

Rural Districts:

  • Bedford
  • Ampthill
  • Biggleswade
  • Luton

Berkshire

Statutory Water Undertakers

  • *Thames Valley WB
  • *Mid Southern W. Co.
  • *South West Suburban W. Co.
  • *Middle Thames WB

Sewerage Authorities

Bracknell NT Dev. Corp.

County Borough:

Reading.

Boroughs:

  • Newbury
  • Wokingham
  • Maidenhead
  • New Windsor
  • Slough

Urban Districts:

Eton

Rural Districts:

  • Bradfield
  • Hungerford
  • Newbury.
  • *Wantage
  • Wokingham
  • Cookham
  • Windsor
  • *Eton
  • Easthampstead

Buckinghamshire

Statutory Water Undertakers

  • Chesham UDC
  • *Middle Thames WB
  • *Rickmansworth and Uxbridge Valley W. Co.
  • *Bucks WB
  • Buckingham MB

Sewerage Authorities

Milton Keynes NT Dev. Corp.

Boroughs:

  • Aylesbury
  • Buckingham
  • High Wycombe

Urban Districts:

  • Bletchley
  • Newport Pagnell
  • Wolverton
  • Marlow
  • Chesham
  • Beaconsfield

Rural Districts:

  • Newport Pagnell
  • Winslow
  • Aylesbury
  • Buckingham
  • Wing
  • Wycombe.
  • Amersham
  • *Eton

Cambridgeshire

Statutory Water Undertakers

  • *Ely, Mildenhall and Newmarket WB
  • *South Lincolnshire WB
  • *Wisbech and District WB.
  • Cambridge W. Co.

Sewerage Authorities

Peterborough NT Dev. Corp.

Boroughs:

  • Peterborough
  • Wisbech
  • Huntingdon and Godmanchester
  • St. Ives
  • Cambridge.

Urban Districts:

  • Old Fletton
  • Chatteris
  • March
  • Whittlesey
  • Ramsey
  • St. Neots
  • Ely

Rural Districts:

  • Barnack
  • Peterborough
  • Thorney
  • Norman Cross
  • North Witchford
  • Wisbech
  • Huntingdon
  • St. Ives
  • St. Neots
  • Ely
  • Newmarket
  • Chesterton
  • South Cambridgeshire

Cheshire

Statutory Water Undertakers

  • Macclesfield & District WB
  • *Manchester CBC
  • Mid-Chesire WB
  • Chester WWCo
  • *Wirral WB
  • *Widnes BC
  • Warrington, Runcorn & District WB
  • *Stockport & District WB

Sewerage Authorities

  • Runcorn NTDev.Corp
  • Warrington NTDev.Corp.

County Boroughs:

  • Chester
  • Warrington

Boroughs:

  • Ellesmere Port
  • Macclesfield
  • Crewe
  • Congleton
  • Widnes

Urban Districts:

  • Lymm
  • *Golborne
  • Runcorn
  • Neston
  • Northwich
  • Winsford
  • Alderley Edge
  • Bollington
  • Knutsford
  • Wilmslow
  • Nantwich
  • Alsager
  • Middlewich
  • Sandbach

Rural Districts:

  • Runcorn
  • Warrington
  • *Whiston
  • Northwich
  • Disley
  • Macclesfield
  • *Bucklow
  • Chester
  • Tarvin
  • Nantwich
  • Congleton

Cleveland

Statutory Water Undertakers

  • *Tees Valley & Cleveland WB
  • HartlepoolWCo

Sewerage Authorities

County Boroughs:

  • Hartlepool
  • Teesside

Urban Districts:

  • Guisborough
  • Loftus
  • Saltburn & Marske-by-the-Sea
  • Skelton & Brotton

Rural Districts:

  • Stockton
  • *Stokesley

Cornwall

Statutory Water Undertakers

  • East Cornwall WB
  • North & Mid Cornwall WB
  • South Cornwall WB
  • West Cornwall WB

Sewerage Authorities

Boroughs:

  • Launceston
  • St. Austell with Fowey
  • Liskeard
  • Saltash
  • Penzance
  • St. Ives
  • Helston
  • Falmouth
  • Penryn
  • Truro

Urban Districts:

  • Bude-Stratton
  • Newquay
  • Looe
  • Torpoint
  • St. Just
  • Camborne-Redruth

Rural Districts:

  • Camelford
  • Launceston
  • Stratton & Wadebridge
  • Padstow
  • St. Austell
  • Liskeard
  • St. Germans
  • West Penwith
  • Kervier
  • Kerris
  • Truro

Cumbria

Statutory Water Undertakers

  • Carlisle CBC
  • Eden WB
  • Fumess WB
  • Lakes & Lune WB
  • South Cumberland WB
  • West Cumberland WB

Sewerage Authorities

County Boroughs:

  • Carlisle
  • Barrow-in-Furnss

Boroughs:

  • Workington
  • Appleby
  • Whitehaven
  • Kendal

Urban Districts:

  • Cockermouth
  • Keswick
  • Maryport
  • Penrith
  • Lakes
  • Grange
  • Ulverston
  • Windermere
  • Dalton-in-Furness

Rural Districts:

  • Border
  • Cockermouth
  • Wigton
  • Alston with Garrigill
  • Penrith
  • North Westmorland
  • Ennerdale
  • Millom
  • North Lonsdale
  • South Westmorland
  • Sedbergh

Derbyshire

Statutory Water Undertakers

  • North Derbyshire WB
  • South Derbyshire WB
  • *Central Nottinghamshire WB
  • *South Staffordshire WWCo.

Sewerage A uthorities

County Boroughs:

  • Derby

Boroughs:

  • Buxton
  • Glossop
  • Chesterfield
  • Ilkeston

Urban Districts:

  • New Mills
  • Whaley Bridge
  • Staveley
  • Ashbourne
  • Bakewell
  • Matlock
  • Wirksworth
  • Clay Cross
  • Dronfield
  • Bolsover
  • Alfreton
  • Belper
  • Heanor
  • Ripley
  • Long Eaton
  • Swadlingcote

Rural Districts:

  • Tintwistle
  • Chapel-en-le-Frith
  • Chesterfield
  • Ashbourne
  • Bakewell
  • Blackwell
  • Clowne
  • Belper
  • South East Derbyshire

Devon

Statutory Water Undertakers

  • East Devon WB
  • North Devon WB
  • Plymouth CBC
  • South West Devon WB
  • *West Somerset WB

Sewerage Authorities

County Boroughs:

  • Exeter
  • Plymouth
  • Torbay

Boroughs:

  • Bideford
  • Great Torrington
  • Barnstaple
  • Okehampton
  • Tiverton
  • Honiton
  • Dartmouth
  • Totnes

Urban Districts:

  • Northam
  • Ilfracombe
  • Lynton
  • Crediton
  • Ashburton
  • Buckfastleigh
  • Dawlish
  • Newton Abbot
  • Teignmouth
  • Budleigh Salterton
  • Exmouth
  • Ottery St. Mary
  • Seaton
  • Sidmouth
  • Kingsbridge
  • Salcombe

Rural Districts:

  • Bideford
  • Torrington
  • Holsworthy
  • Barnstaple
  • South Molton
  • Okehampton
  • Tavistock
  • Crediton
  • Tiverton
  • Newton Abbot
  • St. Thomas
  • Axminster
  • Honiton
  • Kingsbridge
  • Plymouth St. Mary
  • Totnes

Dorset

Statutory Water Undertakers

  • Dorset WB
  • *West Hants W Co
  • Bournemouth & District W Co
  • Cholderton & District W Co
  • *West Wiltshire WB
  • *Wessex WB

Sewerage Authorities

County Boroughs:

  • Bournemouth

Boroughs:

  • Bridport
  • Dorchester
  • Lyme Regis
  • Blandford Forum
  • Shaftesbury
  • Weymouth & Melcombe Regis
  • Wareham
  • Poole
  • Christchurch

Urban Districts:

  • Sherborne
  • Wimborne Minster
  • Portland
  • Swanage

Rural Districts:

  • Beaminster
  • Bridport
  • Dorchester
  • Sherborne
  • Blandford
  • Shaftesbury
  • Sturminster
  • *Ringwood & Fordingbridge
  • Wareham & Purbeck

Durham

Statutory Water Undertakers

  • Darlington CBC
  • Durham County WB
  • *Tees Valley & Cleveland WB
  • *Sunderland & South Shields W Co

Sewerage Authorities

  • Peterlee NTDevCorp
  • Aycliffe NTDevCorp

County Boroughs:

Darlington

Boroughs:

Durham & Framvvelgate

Urban Districts:

  • Consett
  • Stanley
  • Chester-le-Street
  • Bishop Auckland
  • Crook & Willington
  • Tow Law
  • Brandon & Byshottles
  • Seaham
  • Barnard Castle
  • Shildon
  • Spennymoor

Rural Districts:

  • Lanchester
  • *Chester-le-Streeet
  • Weardale
  • Durham
  • *Easington
  • Barnard Castle
  • Startforth
  • Sedgefield
  • Darlington

East Sussex

Statutory Water Undertakers

  • Brighton CBC
  • Hastings CBC
  • *Mid-Sussex W Co
  • Eastbourne W Co

Sewerage Authorities

  • Brighton Intercepting & Outfall Sewers Board
  • *Portslade and Southwick Outfall Sewage Board

County Boroughs:

  • Brighton
  • Eastbourne
  • Hastings

Boroughs:

  • Bexhill
  • Rye
  • Hove
  • Lewes

Urban Districts:

  • Portslade-by-Sea
  • Newhaven
  • Seaford

Rural Districts:

  • Hailsham
  • Uckfield
  • Battle
  • Chailey

Essex

Statutory Water Undertakers

  • Colchester and District WB
  • *Essex W Co
  • Tendring Hundred W Co
  • *Lee Valley W Co
  • *Metropolitan Water Board

Sewerage Authorities

  • Harlow N.T.Dev.Corp.
  • Basildon N.T.Dev.Corp.

County Boroughs:

Southend-on-Sea

Boroughs:

  • Saffron Walden
  • Colchester
  • Harwich
  • Chelmsford
  • Maldon

Urban Districts:

  • Braintree and Bocking
  • Halstead
  • Witham
  • West Mersea
  • Wivenhoe
  • Brightlingsea
  • Clacton
  • Frinton and Walton
  • Harlow
  • Chigwell
  • Epping
  • Waltham Holy Cross
  • Burnham-on-Crouch
  • Brentwood
  • Basildon
  • Rayleigh
  • Thurrock
  • Benfleet
  • Canvey Island

Rural Districts:

  • Dunmow
  • Saffron Walden
  • Braintree
  • Halstead
  • Lexden and Winstree
  • Rochford
  • Maldon
  • Chelmsford
  • Epping and Ongar
  • Tendring

Gloucestershire

Statutory Water Undertakers

  • Cotswold WB
  • North West Gloucestershire WB

Sewerage Authorities

County Boroughs:

Gloucester

Boroughs:

  • Tewkesbury
  • Cheltenham

Urban Districts:

  • Charlton Kings
  • Nailsworth
  • Stroud.
  • Cirencester

Rural Districts:

  • Cheltenham
  • Gloucester
  • East Dean
  • Lydney
  • Newent
  • West Dean
  • Cirencester
  • North Cotswold
  • Northleach
  • Tetbury
  • *Sodbury
  • *Thornbury

Hampshire

Statutory Water Undertakers

  • Lymington BC
  • Southampton CBC
  • Winchester BC
  • *Portsmouth W. Co.
  • *Mid Southern W. Co.
  • *West Hants W. Co.

Sewerage Authorities

South Hampshire Main Drainage Board

County Boroughs:

  • Southampton
  • Portsmouth

Boroughs:

  • Basingstoke
  • Aldershot
  • Andover
  • Romsey
  • Winchester
  • Lymington
  • Eastleigh
  • Gosport

Urban Districts:

  • Fleet
  • Farnborough
  • Alton
  • Petersfield
  • Fareham
  • Havant and Waterloo

Rural Districts:

  • Basingstoke
  • Kingsclere and Whitchurch
  • Hartley Wintney
  • Andover
  • Romsey and Stockbridge
  • Droxford
  • Winchester
  • New Forest
  • *Ringwood and Fordingbridge

Hereford and Worcester

Statutory Water Undertakers

  • North West Worcestershire WB
  • South West Worcestershire WB
  • *East Worcestershire WW Co
  • Herefordshire WB

Sewerage Authorities

Redditch NT Dev Corp

County Boroughs:

Worcester

Boroughs:

  • Bewdley
  • Kidderminster
  • Leominster
  • Hereford
  • Droitwich
  • Evesham

Urban Districts:

  • Stourport-on-Severn
  • Bromsgrove
  • Redditch
  • Kington
  • Ross-on-Wye
  • Malvern

Rural Districts:

  • Kidderminster
  • Bromsgrove
  • Kington
  • Leominster and Wigmore
  • Weobley
  • Tenbury
  • Dore and Bredwardine
  • Hereford
  • Ross and Whitchurch
  • Bromyard
  • Ledbury
  • Marti ey
  • Upton upon Severn
  • Droitwich
  • Pershore
  • Evesham

Hertfordshire

Statutory Water Undertakers

  • Watford BC
  • *Lee Valley W Co
  • *Rickmansworth and Uxbridge Valley W Co
  • *Colne Valley W Co
  • *Metropolitan Water Board

Sewerage Authorities

  • Stevenage NT Dev Corp
  • West Herts Main Drainage Auth

Boroughs:

  • Hertford
  • Hemel Hempstead
  • St. Albans
  • Watford

Urban Districts:

  • Baldock
  • Hitchin
  • Letchworth
  • Royston
  • Stevenage
  • Bishop's Stortford
  • Sawbridgeworth
  • Ware
  • Berkhamsted
  • Tring
  • Harpenden
  • Welwyn Garden City
  • Cheshunt
  • Hoddesdon
  • Chorleywood
  • Rickmansworth
  • Bushey
  • Potters Bar

Rural Districts:

  • Hitchin
  • Hertford
  • Braughing
  • Ware
  • Berkhamsted
  • Hemel Hempstead
  • St. Albans
  • Watford
  • Hatfield
  • Welwyn
  • Elstree

Humberside

Statutory Water Undertakers

  • East Yorks (Wolds Area) WB
  • Kington-upon-Hull CBC
  • *Pontefract, Goole and Selby WB
  • N. Lindsey WB
  • Doncaster and District Jt WB

Sewerage Authorities

County Boroughs:

  • Kingston-upon-Hull
  • Grimsby

Boroughs:

  • Bridlington
  • Goole
  • Beverley
  • Hedon
  • Scunthorpe
  • Cleethorpes

Urban Districts:

  • Driffield
  • Haltemprice
  • Hornsea
  • Withernsea
  • Barton-upon-Humber
  • Brigg

Rural Districts:

  • Driffield
  • Pocklington
  • *Bridlington
  • Isle of Axholme
  • Howden
  • Goole
  • Beverley
  • Holderness
  • Glanford Brigg
  • Grimsby

Isle of Wight

Statutory Water Undertakers

Isle of Wight River and Water Authority.

Sewerage Authorities

Boroughs:

  • Newport
  • Ryde.

Urban Districts:

  • Cowes
  • Sandown-Shanklin
  • Ventnor.

Rural Districts:

  • Isle of Wight.

Kent

Statutory Water Undertakers

  • Medway WB
  • Thanet WB
  • Tunbridge Wells BC
  • Mid Kent W Co
  • Sevenoaks and Tonbridge W Co
  • Folkestone and District W Co
  • *Metropolitan Water Board.

Sewerage Authorities

  • Rochester, Chatham and Gillingham Joint Sewerage Board
  • *West Kent Main Sewerage Board.

County Borough:

  • Canterbury.

Boroughs:

  • Dartford
  • Gravesend
  • Chatham
  • Rochester
  • Gillingham
  • Faversham
  • Queenborough-in-Sheppey
  • Deal
  • Dover
  • Sandwich
  • Margate
  • Rarnsgate
  • Maidstone
  • Tunbridge Wells
  • Tenterden
  • Folkestone
  • Hythe
  • Lydd
  • New Romney.

Urban Districts:

  • Swanscombe
  • Northfleet
  • Sittingbourne and Milton
  • Herne Bay
  • Whitstable
  • Broadstairs and St. Peters
  • Sevenoaks
  • Ton bridge
  • Southborough
  • Ashford.

Rural Districts:

  • Cranbrook
  • Mailing
  • Sevenoaks
  • Romney Marsh
  • Elham
  • West Ashford
  • Tenterden
  • East Ashford
  • Maidstone
  • Hollingbourne
  • Tonbridge
  • Eastry
  • Bridge-BIean
  • Swale
  • Strood
  • Dartford.

Lancashire

Statutory Water Undertakers

  • *Bolton CBC
  • Calder WB
  • Fylde WB
  • Lune Valley WB
  • *Makerfield WB
  • North Calder WB
  • Preston and District WB
  • *West Lancashire WB.

Sewerage Authorities

  • Haslington, Rawtenstall, Bacup Joint Sewerage Board
  • Mid-Calder and Hyndburn Joint Sewerage Board
  • Central Lanes NT Dev Corp
  • Skelmersdale NT Dev Corp.

County Boroughs:

  • Blackpool
  • Blackburn
  • Burnley
  • Preston.

Boroughs:

  • Lancaster
  • Morecombe and Heysham
  • Fleetwood
  • Clitheroe
  • Lytham St. Annes
  • Chorley
  • Darwen
  • Accrington
  • Colne
  • Nelson
  • Bacup
  • Haslingdcn
  • Rawtenstall.

Urban Districts:

  • Carnforth
  • Poulton le Fylde
  • Preesall
  • Thornton Cleveleys
  • Longbridge
  • Kirkham
  • Fulwood
  • Leyland
  • Walton le Dale
  • Ormskirk
  • Skelmersdale and Holland
  • Adlington
  • Withnell
  • *Turton
  • Church
  • Clayton le Moors
  • Great Harwood
  • Oswaldtwistle
  • Rishton
  • Padiham
  • Barrowford
  • Brierford
  • Trawden
  • Barnoldswick
  • Earby
  • Whitworth
  • Ramsbottom.

Rural Districts:

  • Lancaster
  • Lunesdale
  • Garstang
  • Clitheroe
  • Blackburn
  • Burnley
  • Preston
  • Bowland
  • Fylde
  • *West Lancashire
  • *Wigan
  • Chorley
  • *Skipton.

Leicestershire

Statutory Water Undertakers

  • Leicester CBC
  • North West Leicestershire WB

Sewerage Authorities

County Boroughs:

  • Leicester

Boroughs:

  • Loughborough

Urban Districts:

  • Ashby de la Zouch
  • Ashby Wolds
  • Coalville
  • Shepshed
  • Melton Mowbray
  • Hinckley
  • Oadby
  • Wigston
  • Market Harborough
  • Oakham

Rural Districts:

  • Ashby de la Zouch
  • Castle Donington
  • Market Bosworth
  • Barrow upon Soar
  • Melton and Belvoir
  • Blaby
  • Billesdon
  • Lutterworth
  • Market Harborough
  • Oakham
  • Ketton
  • Uppingham

Lincolnshire

Statutory Water Undertakers

  • East Lincolnshire WB
  • Kesteven WB
  • *Lincoln and District WB NE Lines WB
  • *South Lincolnshire WB

Sewerage Authorities

County Boroughs:

  • Lincoln

Boroughs:

  • Louth
  • Boston
  • Grantham
  • Stamford

Urban Districts:

  • Gainsborough
  • Market Rasen
  • Alford
  • Horncastle
  • Mablethorpe and Sutton
  • Skegness
  • Woodhall Spa
  • Sleaford
  • Bourne
  • Spalding

Rural Districts:

  • Caistor
  • Gainsborough
  • Welton
  • Horncastle
  • Louth
  • Spilsby
  • East Kesteven
  • North Kesteven
  • Boston
  • South Kesteven
  • West Kesteven
  • East Elloe
  • Spalding

Norfolk

Statutory Water Undertakers

  • North West Norfolk WB
  • Norwich CBC
  • South Norfolk WB
  • *Wisbech and District WB
  • *East Anglian W Co

Sewerage Authorities

County Boroughs:

  • Norwich
  • Great Yarmouth

Boroughs:

  • Kings Lynn
  • Thetford

Urban Districts:

  • Cromer
  • North Walsham
  • Sheringham
  • Wells-next-the-Sea
  • Downham Market
  • Hunstanton
  • East Dereham
  • Swaffham
  • Diss
  • Wymondham

Rural Districts:

  • Erpingham
  • Smallburgh
  • Walsingham
  • Docking
  • Downham
  • Freebridge Lynn
  • Marshland
  • Mitford and Launditch
  • Swaffham
  • Wayland
  • St. Faiths and Aylsham
  • Blofield and Flegg
  • *Lothingland
  • Depwade
  • Forehoe and Henstead
  • Loddon

North Yorkshire

Statutory Water Undertakers

  • *Claro WB
  • Craven WB
  • *Leeds CBC
  • Northallerton and the Dales WB
  • Norton UDC
  • *Pontefract, Goole and Selby WB
  • Ryedale Joint WB
  • Scarborough BC
  • Yorks Waterworks Co.
  • *Rombalds WB

Sewerage Authorities

County Boroughs:

  • York

Boroughs:

  • Richmond
  • Scarborough
  • Harrogate
  • Ripon

Urban Districts:

  • Northallerton
  • Norton
  • Malton
  • Pickering
  • Filey
  • Scalby
  • Whitby
  • Skipton
  • Knaresborough
  • Selby

Rural Districts:

  • Aysgarth
  • Leyburn
  • Reeth
  • Richmond
  • Croft
  • Bedale
  • Easingwold
  • Northallerton
  • Thirsk
  • *Stokesley
  • Norton
  • Flaxton
  • Helmsley
  • Kirkbymoorside
  • Malton
  • Pickering
  • *Bridlington
  • Scarborough
  • *Hemsworth
  • *Tadcaster
  • *Osgoldcross
  • Selby
  • * Wharf edale
  • *Wetherby
  • Ripon and Pateley Bridge
  • Nidderdale
  • Wath
  • Masham
  • *Skipton
  • Settle
  • Whitby

Northamptonshire

Statutory Water Undertakers

  • *Bucks WB
  • Higham Ferrers and Rushden WB
  • Mid-Northamptonshire WB
  • Nene and Ouse WB

Sewerage Authorities

County Boroughs:

  • Northampton

Boroughs:

  • Kettering
  • Higham Ferrers
  • Daventry
  • Brackley

Urban Districts:

  • Corby
  • Burton Latimer
  • Desborough
  • Rothwell
  • Irthlingborough
  • Oundle
  • Raunds
  • Rushden
  • Wellingborough

Rural Districts:

  • Kettering'
  • Oundle and Trapston
  • Wellingborough
  • Daventry
  • Brixworth
  • Northampton
  • Brackley
  • Towcester

Northumberland

Statutory Water Undertakers

  • *Tynemouth CBC
  • Newcastle and Gateshead WCo.

Sewerage Authorities

  • Seaton Burn Valley Joint Sewerage Board

Boroughs:

  • Berwick upon Tweed
  • Norpeth
  • Blyth
  • *Whitley Bay

Urban Districts:

  • Alnwick
  • Amble
  • Hexham
  • Prudhoe
  • Ashington
  • Bedlingtonshire
  • Newbiggin-by-the-Sea
  • *Seaton Valley

Rural Districts:

  • Belford
  • Glendale
  • Norham and Islandshires
  • Alnwick
  • Rothbury
  • Bellingham
  • Haltwhistle
  • Hexham
  • *Castle Ward
  • Morpeth

Nottinghamshire:

Statutory Water Undertakers

  • *Lincoln and District WB
  • *Central Nottinghamshire WB
  • Nottingham CBC

Sewerage Authorities

County Boroughs:

  • Nottingham

Boroughs:

  • East Retford
  • Worksop
  • Mansfield
  • Newark

Urban Districts:

  • Mansfield Woodhouse
  • Warsop
  • Hucknall
  • Kirkby in Ashfield
  • Sutton in Ashfield
  • Beeston and Stapleford
  • Eastwood
  • Arnold
  • Carlton
  • West Bridgford

Rural Districts:

  • *East Retford
  • *Worksop
  • Newark
  • Southwell
  • Basford
  • Bingham

Oxfordshire

Statutory Water Undertakers

  • Oxfordshire and District WB
  • *Thames Valley WB

Sewerage Authorities

County Boroughs:

  • Oxford

Boroughs:

  • Chipping Norton
  • Woodstock
  • Banbury
  • Abingdon
  • Wallingford
  • Henley-on-Thames

Urban Districts:

  • Witney
  • Bicester
  • Wantage
  • Thame

Rural Districts:

  • Chipping Norton
  • Witney
  • Banbury
  • Ploughley
  • Abingdon
  • Farringdon
  • *Wantage
  • Wallingford
  • Bullingdon
  • Henley

Salop

Statutory Water Undertakers

  • East Shropshire WB
  • West Shropshire WB
  • *Wolverhampton CBC

Sewerage Authorities

  • Telford NT Dev. Corp

Boroughs:

  • Shrewsbury

Urban Districts:

  • Dawley
  • Newport
  • Oakengates
  • Wellington

Rural Districts:

  • Oswestry
  • Market Drayton
  • North Shropshire
  • Atcham
  • Wellington
  • Shifnal
  • Clun and Bishops Castle
  • Ludlow
  • Bridgnorth

Somerset

Statutory Water Undertakers

  • *Wessex WB
  • *West Somerset WB
  • *Bristol WCo

Sewerage Authorities

Boroughs:

  • Bridgwater
  • Glastonbury
  • Wells
  • Taunton
  • Chard
  • Yeovil

Urban Districts:

  • Burnham-on-Sea
  • Frome
  • Shepton Mallet
  • Street
  • Minehead
  • Watchet
  • Wellington
  • Crewkerne
  • Ilminster

Rural Districts:

  • Bridgwater
  • *Axbridge
  • Frome
  • Shepton Mallet
  • Wells
  • *Clutton
  • Dulverton
  • Williton
  • Taunton
  • Wellington
  • Chard
  • Langport
  • Wincanton
  • Yeovil

Staffordshire

Statutory Water Undertakers

  • Cannock RDC
  • Stafford BC
  • Staffordshire Potteries WB
  • *Wolverhampton CBC
  • *South Staffordshire WWCo

Sewerage Authorities

County Boroughs:

  • Stoke-on-Trent
  • Burton upon Trent

Boroughs:

  • Newcastle under Lyme
  • Stafford
  • Lichfield
  • Tamworth

Urban Districts:

  • Biddulph
  • Leek
  • Kidsgrove
  • Stone
  • Uttoxeter
  • Cannock
  • Rugeley

Rural Districts:

  • Cheadle
  • Leek
  • Newcastle under Lyme
  • Stafford
  • Stone
  • Tutbury
  • Uttoxeter
  • Cannock
  • Seisdon
  • Lichfield

Suffolk

Statutory Water Undertakers

  • *Ely, Mildenhall and Newmarket WB
  • Ipswich CBC
  • West Suffolk WB
  • *East Anglian WCo

Sewerage Authorities

County Boroughs:

Ipswich

Boroughs:

  • Beccles
  • Lowestoft
  • Southwold
  • Bury St Edmunds
  • Eye
  • Aldeburgh
  • Sudbury

Urban Districts:

  • Bungay
  • Halesworth
  • Newmarket
  • Haverhill
  • Stowmarket
  • Felixstowe
  • Leiston-cum-Sizewell
  • Saxmundham
  • Woodbridge
  • Hadleigh

Rural Districts:

  • Wainford
  • *Lothingland
  • Mildenhall
  • Clare
  • Thingoe
  • Gipping
  • Hartismere
  • Thedwastre
  • Blyth
  • Deben
  • Sam ford
  • Cosford
  • Melford

Surrey

Statutory Water Undertakers

  • Epsom and Ewell BC
  • West Surrey WB
  • East Surrey W Co
  • *Mid Southern W Co
  • Woking and District W Co
  • *SW Suburban W Co
  • Sutton District W Co

Sewerage Authorities

Boroughs:

  • Epsom and Ewell
  • Guildford
  • Reigate
  • Godalming

Urban Districts:

  • Chertsey
  • Egham
  • Staines
  • Sunbury on Thames
  • Frimley and Camberley
  • Woking
  • Esher
  • Walton and Weybridge
  • Dorking
  • Leatherhead
  • Banstead
  • Caterham and Warlingham
  • Farnham
  • Haslemere

Rural Districts:

  • Bagshot
  • Guildford
  • *Dorking and Horley
  • Godstone
  • Hambledon

Warwickshire

Statutory Water Undertakers

  • *Birmingham CBC
  • *Coventry CBC
  • North East Warwickshire WB
  • Rugby Joint WB
  • South Warwickshire WB
  • *East Worcestershire WW Co

Sewerage Authorities

Boroughs:

  • Nuneaton
  • RugbyRoyal Leamington Spa
  • Warwick
  • Stratford upon Avon

Urban Districts:

  • Bedworth
  • Kenilworth

Rural Districts:

  • Atherstone
  • *Meriden
  • Rugby
  • Warwick
  • Alcester
  • Shipston on Stour
  • Southam
  • Stratford on Avon

West Sussex

Statutory Water Undertakers

  • North West Sussex WB
  • Worthing BC
  • *Portsmouth WCo
  • *Mid-Sussex WCo

Sewerage Authorities

* Portslade and Southwick Outfall Sewerage Board

Boroughs:

  • Worthing
  • Chichester
  • Arundel

Urban Districts:

  • Crawley
  • Horsham
  • Burgess Hill
  • Cuckfield
  • East Grinstead
  • Bognor Regis
  • Littlehampton
  • Shoreham-by-Sea
  • Southwick

Rural Districts:

  • Cuckfield
  • *Dorking and Horley
  • Midhurst
  • Petworth
  • Chichester
  • Chanctonbury
  • Horsham
  • Worthing

Wiltshire

Statutory Water Undertakers

  • Swindon BC
  • North Wiltshire WB
  • South Wiltshire WB
  • *West Wiltshire WB

Sewerage Authorities

Boroughs:

  • Calne
  • Chippenham
  • Malmesbury
  • Swindon
  • Devizes
  • Marl borough
  • New Sarum
  • Wilton

Urban Districts:

  • Bradford on Avon
  • Melksham
  • Trowbridge
  • Warminster
  • Westbury

Rural Districts:

  • Calne and Chippenham
  • Cricklade and Wootton Bassett
  • Malmesbury
  • Highworth
  • Bradford and Melksham
  • Warminster and Westbury
  • Devizes
  • Marlborough and Ramsbury
  • Pewsey
  • Amesbury
  • Mere and Tisbury
  • Salisbury and Wilton

Mr. Spearing

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT under headings of existing river authorities the estimated numbers of persons, or a range of numbers, at present employed fully and/or partially in sewage disposal and the equivalent numbers who, under the Government proposals, will in future be employed by regional water authorities and local authorities, respectively.

Mr. Graham Page

This information is not immediately available because in some local authorities staff are employed partly on sewerage and sewage disposal and partly on other functions. The reports of the local steering committees and working parties should, however, enable an assessment to be made of the number of staff whom the regional water authorities will require for sewerage and sewage disposal.

House Of Commons (Accommodation)

Mr. Robert Cooke

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make available for the use of the House of Commons the whole of the Norman Shaw (North) building following the resolution of the House of Commons Services Committee.

Mr. Channon

The Government have noted the House of Commons (Services Committee) resolution, and my Department is undertaking a feasibility study at the present time.

Ice Cream Vans

Mr. David Stoddart

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is aware of the nuisance caused, particularly to shift workers and the parents of young children, through the sounding of mechanical chimes from ice cream vans; and if he will introduce legislation to bring this form of advertising within the general ban on loudspeaker or amplifier advertising under the Noise Abatement Act.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

Under the Noise Abatement Act 1960 ice cream chimes may be sounded only between 12 noon and 7 p.m. and in such a way as not to annoy people in the vicinity. My right hon. and learned Friend recognises that this kind of noise can still be a nuisance to people such as shift workers. The Noise Advisory Council has set up a special working group to examine noise which is a nuisance in public places, and this will be one of the matters it will consider.

Mr. David Stoddart

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish figures showing the number of accidents involving children associated with ice cream vans for 1970, 1971 and 1972.

Mr. Speed

This information is not available, but studies by local road safety units have suggested that about one in twenty child pedestrian casualties arises from accidents in the vicinity of ice cream vans.

Industrial Development (Services And Roads)

Mr. Hardy

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average length of time which elapses between the initial request for grant and the giving of approval of the appropriate contribution towards the cost of the provision of services and of roads for industrial development under the terms of the Local Employment Act.

Mr. Graham Page

The administration of these grants is, in part, decentralised, and I am assembling this information for those services for which I am responsible. I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Duncan Terrace, Islington (Inquiry)

Mr. George Cunningham

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the inspector who conducted a public inquiry into the proposed use of a part of Duncan Terrace, Islington, London, N.1, as a turning bay has yet submitted his report; and when he expects to announce his decision.

Mr. Peyton

I am considering the inspector's report and will announce my decision shortly.

Motor Cars And Washing Machines

Mr. Carter

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the numbers of cars per head of population and the number of washing machines per head of population in each of the Common Market countries in 1950, 1960, 1970, and at the latest available date.

Mr. Peyton

I regret that figures of washing machines are not available. Following are the figures of cars:

Cars per 1,000 population
1950196019701971
United Kingdom46107212223
Belgium3282213221
Denmark2789218231
Federal Republic of Germany1281226247
France38121254261
Irish Republic3361134141
Italy740190209
Luxemburg32118278300
Netherlands1445199212

Trade And Industry

Regional Development Fund

44.

Mr. Russell Johnston

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the latest available information on the proposed setting up of an EEC Regional Development Fund.

Mr. Anthony Grant

I understand that the European Commissioner for Regional Policy hopes to have his report on Community regional problems transmitted next month to the Council of Ministers as a paper for discussion, and that he intends to follow up with specific proposals on the Regional Development Fund in the early summer.

India (Eec Markets)

45.

Mr. Cronin

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to induce the European Economic Community to offset the adverse effects of the termination of India's trading advantages in Great Britain, to solve the problem of India's jute and coir exportdifficulties and to give India access to the Community's markets so that herchronic increasing external deficit can be reversed.

Sir G. Howe

India will enjoy important duty-free access to Community markets for major exports such as bulk tea and oil seed cakes as well as under the opportunities conceded under the Community's generalised preference scheme. The Community has already made constructive proposals to India for agreements on jute and coir and is currently preparing to negotiate a commercial co-operation agreement with India.

Computer Industry

Mr. Edwin Wainwright

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the amounts of Government aid given to the computer industry over each of the past five years, and also the estimated amount for the current year.

Mr. Anthony Grant

The amounts of Government aid given to the computer industry in each of the past five years, and the estimate for the current year are as follows (£ million):

1967–68………2·3
1968–69………7·1
1969–70………6·4
1970–71………6·2
1971–72………4·9
1972–73………(Est)13·3
In addition to direct financial support for firms in the industry, the above figures include expenditure on grants to and contracts with universities and the National Computing Centre for activities of value to the industry. The figures do not include payments of £350,000 in 1968–69 and £3,150,000 in 1972–3 in respect of the purchase of shares in International Computers (Holdings) Ltd., nor computer-related R & D expenditure in Government research establishments which is not separately identifiable.

Oil Rigs (Maintenance)

Mr. Mudd

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what particular specialised forms of grants and assistance he envisages for Cornish firms prepared to assist in serving and maintaining oil rigs in the Celtic Sea; and if he will list those services eligible for such grants and assistance.

Mr. Anthony Grant

Such firms will be able to apply for the various forms of assistance available under the Industry Act; these include regional development grants, selective financial assistance and shipbuilding construction grants. Qualifying activities for the purposes of the regional development grant scheme are basically manufacturing, mining and construction. Similarly, selective assistance will normally be considered for projects in manufacturing, mining and construction. Selective assistance to the service industries will be concentrated on mobile projects which make a significant contribution to the employment needs of the assisted areas.

South Africa (British Firms)

Mr. David Steel

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will set up a unit in his Department to advise British firms on the treatment of employees in South Africa including their wage rates.

Mr. Peter Walker

The guidance which is available to British firms from my Department and from HM commercial representatives in South Africa draws attention to the scope within South African legislation for improving the wages and working conditions of non-white employees. I have arranged for this guidance to be published in Trade and Industry on 29th March, and I urge all British companies with interests in South Africa to review their practice in the light of it.

Heathrow (Aircraft Movements)

Mr. Norman Lamont

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many jet passenger aircraft took off from Heathrow Airport between 11.30 p.m. and 6 a.m. in the period from 1st April to 31st October 1972.

Mr. Onslow

There were 516 jet departures during the period. Our records show that nearly 500 of these were passenger aircraft, but doubt has arisen about the precise number and I will write to my hon. Friend when investigations are completed.

General Agreement On Tariffs And Trade

Mr. Deakins

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the United Kingdom will be represented separately at the forthcoming GATT negotiations.

Sir G. Howe

The United Kingdom will participate as a member of the EEC with the Commission as spokesman for the Community.

Firth Brown, Sheffield (Merger Proposals)

Mr. Duffy

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will refer to the Monopolies Commission the proposed merger between Firth Brown, Sheffield, and Richard Johnson and Nephew;(2) if he will refer to the Monopolies Commission the proposed merger between Firth Brown, Sheffield, and Dunford and Elliott.

Property Bonds And Equity-Linked Life Assurance (Report)

Mr. McCrindle

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has received the report of the Committee on Property Bonds and Equity-Linked Life Assurance under the chairmanship of Sir Hilary Scott.

Mr. Peter Walker

I have today received the report of the committee, and am arranging for it to be published.

Lard

Mr. Deakins

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what safeguards exist to ensure that United Kingdom consumers are protected against the use of sub-standard fat substitutes in lard exported to the United Kingdom from Common Market States.

Sir K. Joseph

I have been asked to reply.Safeguards lie in the general provisions of the Food and Drugs Act, 1955 and in the Imported Food Regulations 1968.Under Part 2 of the regulations it is an offence to import food which is unfit for human consumption or is unsound or unwholesome. Under Part 3, lard, i.e. rendered pig fat, cannot be imported without an official certificate from the country of origin which is recognised by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food as guaranteeing that the product has been prepared in accordance with satisfactory standards.

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Poultry Feeding Stuffs (Additives)

Miss Holt

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he proposes to introduce regulations banning the use of hormones in egg and poultry production.

Mrs. Fenner

The use of hormone additives in feed stuffs is under discussion in the EEC. In this country the Veterinary Products Committee has advised that on present information there is no sufficient justification for applying special controls to the current use of oestrogens in egg and poultry production.

Mr. Molyneaux

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what additives must be avoided in feeding stuffs if United Kingdom producers wish to import their eggs into France.

Mrs. Fenner

France prohibits the importation of eggs from any country which does not forbid the use of arsenicals, antimonial and oestrogenic substances for the feeding and rearing of poultry.

Hill Farming (Aid)

Mr. Hicks

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total acreage, and the percentage represented by this figure of the total national acreage, of those areas at present eligible for the various forms of assistance to hill farming.

Mr. Anthony Stodart

There are no records of the precise acreage of land eligible for the hill livestock subsidies and the special rates of capital grant but, on a rough estimate, the eligible areas comprise about a third of the agricultural acreage in the United Kingdom. They consist mainly of rough grazings of which there are about 16¾ million acres.

Mr. Hicks

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what effects the implementation of the recommendations contained in draft Directive R/ 523/73 (AGRI 166) (FIN 117) will have on areas of Bodmin Moor now receiving various national aids in support of hill farming; what are the chief intended forms of support; what forms of domestic assistance now given will be abolished; and whether any areas of Bodmin Moor at present aided will be excluded from any new provisions or any additional districts included.

Mr. Anthony Stodart

The draft EEC directive on agriculture in mountain and in certain other difficult fanning areas is under consideration in the Council of Ministers. As it stands, the draft directive would not entail the abolition of any forms of assistance now given to hill farmers, and the main forms of support would be headage payments on hill livestock and investment aids, as they are just now. It would be for member States to propose, and for the Council to approve, the areas to benefit under the draft directive. The criteria proposed seem to be adequate to cover the hill farming areas in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Hicks

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list all individual areas of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, together with their acreages, that are at present eligible for hill farming grants and other forms of assistance.

Mr. Anthony Stodart

I regret that the preparation of such a list would require undue expenditure of staff time and money; but in England the main areas are the Pennines, the Lake District, the North Yorkshire Moors, Exmoor, Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor. Over half of Wales is eligible. The main areas in Northern Ireland are in Mid- and North Antrim, South Down, South Armagh, County Fermanagh and the Sperrin Mountains. Hill land is found in all parts of Scotland. The precise acreage of hill land in the countries of the United Kingdom is not known, but the approximate areas of rough grazing are as follows:

million acres
England…………3¼
Wales…………1½
Scotland…………11½
N. Ireland…………1½

Lard

Mrs. Lena Jeger

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of EEC lard production in 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972 was exported; and what percentage of the total came to the United Kingdom.

Mr. Anthony Stodart

Figures for lard production in the Six are not available. Trade statistics suggest that in 1968 to 1971 between 50 and 80 per cent. of lard exported from the Six came to the United Kingdom. Comparable information in respect of 1972 is not yet available.

Milk Price

Mr. Scott-Hopkins

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the Supplementary Estimate of £31 million for expenditure under the milk guarantee arrangements in 1972-73 implies an early increase in the retail price of milk.

Mr. Godber

In order to avoid the need for an early increase in the retail price of milk, the Government, have decided not to recover from the consumer the deficit in the Milk Fund at the end of 1972–73.

Civil Service

Women Employees

Mr. Bishop

asked the Minister for the Civil Service (1) what consideration he has given to the recommendation of the Report of the Departmental Committee on the Employment of Women in the Civil Service that, where a woman has elderly or infirm dependants or relatives, Departments should ensure that every effort is made to help her to cope with her domestic responsibilities and that unpaid leave should be available if the dependant or relative requires considerable attention; and what action he has taken;(2)what consideration he has given tothe recommendation of the Report of the Departmental Committee on the Employment of Women in the Civil Service regarding reinstatement, that women who have children and who have had at least 20 years' experience should be able to take at least six months' and not more than 12 months' unpaid leave, at a time to be agreed with the Department; and what action he has taken;(3)what consideration he has given to the recommendation of the Report of the Departmental Committee on the Employment of Women in the Civil Service regarding reinstatement, that applicants for reinstatement should not be required to state their intention to remain permanently in the Service and that rejection of an application for reinstatement to a specific grade should be made only at the level at which promotion to the grade concerned is confirmed; and what action he has taken;(4)what consideration he has given to the recommendation of the Report of the Departmental Committee on the Employment of Women in the Civil Service that women who resigned because of domestic responsibilities should not be debarred from reinstatement in grades up to and including the substantive grade held on resignation; and what action he has taken;(5)what consideration he has given to the recommendation of the Report of the Departmental Committee on the Employment of Women in the Civil Service, that on reinstatement previous service should be taken into account in all cases in determining conditions of service, in particular starting salary and promotion seniority; and if he will make a statement;(6)what consideration he has given to the recommendation of the Report of the Departmental Committee on the Employment of Women in the Civil Service, that Departments should, in consultation with the Civil Service Department, advise women who wish to prepare to return to work of the appropriate retraining and that as far as possible there should be flexible arrangements for the training of women who find it difficult to leave home to attend residential courses; and what action he has taken;(7)what consideration he has given to the recommendation of the Report of the Departmental Committee on the Employment of Women in the Civil Service, that Departments should examine the organisation of their work and consider what appropriate part-time work can be provided for serving or former women civil servants who are giving or have given satisfactory service, who are unable to work full-time because they have children to care for, but who wish to continue or resume work in the service; and what action he has taken;(8)what consideration he has given to the recommendation of the Report of the Departmental Committee on the Employment of Women in the Civil Service, that at least one nursery should be set up for an experimental period for the children of civil servants in an area other than London, fees should be fixed in relation to salary but with a maximum, and if the experiment proves to be of value other nurseries should be set up on a similar basis; and what action he has taken;(9)what consideration he has given to the recommendation of the Report of the Departmental Committee on the Employ ment of Women in the Civil Service regarding part-time work, that Departments which have a substantial amount of case work or a high turnover of staff or a large amount of overtime or blocks of routine work should introduce part-time posts on an experimental basis; and what action he has taken;(10)what consideration he has given to the recommendation of the Report of the Departmental Committee on the Employment of Women in the Civil Service, that where work and staff holiday arrangements permit, Departments should consider sympathetically applications from women who have children at school for some unpaid leave during school holidays, particularly where the applicant has only the basic leave allowance; and what action he has taken;(11)what consideration he has given to the recommendation of the Report of the Departmental Committee on the Employment of Women in the Civil Service regarding flexibility of hours, that Departments should encourage the use of discretion in arranging the hours of attendance of women with family responsibilities; and what action he has taken;(12)what consideration he has given to the recommendation of the Report of the Departmental Committee on the Employment of Women in the Civil Service concerning recruitment, that it should be open to both men and women to be considered for any job, and appointments should be solely on the grounds of suitability and qualifications; and what action he has taken;(13)what consideration he has given to the recommendation of the Report of the Departmental Committee on the Employment of Women in the Civil Service regarding leave for urgent domestic affairs, that Departments should use more widely their discretion in granting both paid and unpaid special leave for urgent domestic affairs, and it should be unnecessary first to exhaust annual leave; and what action he has taken;(14)what consideration he has given to the recommendation of the Report of the Departmental Committee on the Employment of Women in the Civil Service regarding annual leave, that Departments should review their annual leave arrangements to ensure that so far as possible married women are able to take annual leave at the same time as then- husbands; and what action he has taken;(15)what consideration he has given to the recommendation of the Report of the Departmental Committee on the Employment of Women in the Civil Service, that unpaid leave of up to three years should be available to a woman whose services her Department wishes to retain if she accompanies her husband on a move required by his employment to a place where she cannot continue her own employment in the Civil Service; and what action he has taken;(16)what consideration he has given to the recommendation of the Report of the Departmental Committee on the Employment of Women in the Civil Service, regarding marriage gratuity, that women who now qualify for a marriage gratuity should, under the new superannuation scheme, qualify for either de ferred benefits or a short service gratuity; and what action he has taken;(17)what consideration he has given to the recommendation of the Report of the Departmental Committee on the Employment of Women in the Civil Service regarding allowances, that all rules governing Civil Service allowances should be examined with the intention of removing any discrimination on the grounds of sex; and what action he has taken;(18)what consideration he has given to the recommendation of the Report of the Departmental Committee on the Employment of Women in the Civil Service regarding promotion, that wherever practicable Departments should arrange for promotion boards to consist of both men and women; and what action he has taken;

(19)what consideration he has given to the recommendation of the Report of the Departmental Committee on the Employment of Women in the Civil Service, that recruitment literature should explain what provisions there are to assist women to combine a family with a career in the Service, and that Departments should ensure that full information is readily available to staff on the provi sions for maternity leave, paid and unpaid leave for special reasons, reinstatement, and retraining; and what action he has taken;

(20)what consideration he has given to the recommendation of the Report of the Departmental Committee on the Employment of Women in the Civil Service, that there should be within two years of the report a review of progress on the operation of those recommenda tions which are accepted, and that the Civil Service Department should consider how progress can best be monitored in the meantime; and what action he has taken;

(21)what consideration he has given to the recommendation of the Report of the Departmental Committee on the Employment of Women in the Civil Service, that for established staff paid maternity leave should be increased to three months, and in addition Departments should continue to have discretion to grant further unpaid leave; and what action he has taken.

Mr. Kenneth Baker

Since the report was published a number of steps have been taken to implement its recommendations. As I announced on 15th November 1972—[Vol. 846, c. 162–6]—posts in more than 70 grades formerly restricted to one sex have been opened to both men and women. Allowances payable to civil servants no longer discriminate between men and women. The new pension scheme provides that women who now qualify for a marriage gratuity should in future qualify for either deferred pension benefits or a short service gratuity. The maternity leave allowance for women civil servants has been increased to a maximum of six months, which for established staff can include up to three months' paid leave.An experimental nursery for the children of civil servants has been built at the Llanishen, Cardiff, offices of the Inland Revenue. We expect that it will open next month and it will in due course cater for 32 children during full office hours. The possibility of a second nursery as part of the experiment is still under consideration.Steps have also been taken to implement a further group of recommendations. All Government Departments have been asked:

  • (a)to examine the organisation of their work to determine which posts could be filled by officers working part-time and to consider sympathetic ally any requests for part-time work;
  • (b)to introduce part-time posts on an experimental basis in areas where there is a substantial amount of case work, a high turnover of staff, or a large amount of overtime or routine work;
  • (c)to ensure that managers of staff are encouraged to make full use of their discretion to arrange office hours to meet the needs of their staff, especially men and women with domestic responsibilities provided that the efficiency of their office is not undermined and that the staff work the appropriate number of hours;
  • (d)to review their annual leave arrangements to see that as far as possible married officers can take annual leave at the same time as work ing wives or husbands, bearing in mind that children of school age further restrict the choice of leave periods;
  • (e)to give sympathetic consideration to requests for special leave, both paid and unpaid, for a wide variety of domestic circumstances—for example. to cover the individual's need to cope with elderly or infirm dependants or relatives or children during the school holidays, or to accompany a wife or husband who is moved away from the former place of employment;
  • (f) to provide flexible arrangements for retraining women who wish to prepare to return to work, and to advise them of the availability of such retraining.

    • As regards promotion boards and procedures, Departments have been asked to ensure that women are fully involved.

    All these arrangements affecting women are being included in departmental staff handbooks available to all staff. Recruitment literature issued by the Civil Service Commission since the recommendations became known also contains a section on the employment of women, drawing attention to these measures to assist women to combine a family with a career in the service.

    Discussions on the recommendations on reinstatement are still in progress with the staff side of the Civil Service National Whitley Council.

    We propose to undertake a further review of progress early in 1974.

    Education And Science

    Pupil-Teacher Ratio (Manchester)

    Mr. Rose

    asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average pupil-teacher ratio in primary, comprehensive and direct grant grammar schools in the new Manchester county district area.

    Mr. St. John-Stevas

    The information is not available, but for the present county borough of Manchester, which is nearly coterminous with the future metropolitan district of the same name, the figures in January 1972 were:

    Maintained primary schools…26·6
    Maintained secondary schools
    Modern…18·3
    Grammar…16·6
    Comprehensive…16·5
    all…16·9
    Direct grant grammar schools…16·5

    Community Service

    Mr. Montgomery

    asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if she will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT any grants paid by her Department to organisations concerned with providing opportunities for young people to take part in community service programmes; and if she will make a statement about the work of such organisations;(2) what action is being taken through the Youth Service to provide more opportunities for young people to take part in community service programmes.

    Mr. St. John-Stevas

    In response to the demand from young people there has been a substantial and continuing expansion of facilities for voluntary community service. A Government survey published in 1972 reported that one third of 14–16 year olds had at some time been involved in voluntary service.Many of the youth organisations to which my department makes grants are concerned with such activities. Grants in 1972–73 to bodies involved mainly in community service were:

    £
    Community Service Volunteers15,160
    Task Force3,480
    International Voluntary Service7,540
    Young Volunteer Force Foundation (half year)50,000*
    *Responsibility transferred at the half-year to the Home Office.
    I am happy to pay tribute to the excellent work of youth organisations in this field. The Government's interest in voluntary social service generally is co-ordinated by my noble Friend the Minister of State, Home Office.

    Secondary Schools (Staffordshire)

    Mr. Knox

    asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much was spent on secondary school building in Staffordshire in each of the past three years; and how many secondary schools were built in Staffordshire in each of these years.

    Mr. St. John-Stevas

    The information is as follows:

    Calendar yearValue of projects (extensions and complete schools) completed (£000 at current prices)Number of projects (new secondary schools) completed
    1970…1,1550
    1971…1,2292
    1972…1,0902

    Nursery Schoolchildren (Warley)

    Mr. Faulds

    asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many four-year old children at present attend nursery school in the county borough of Warley; how this compares with the figures for the West Midlands as a whole; and what proportion these figures are of all four-year-old children in their respective areas.

    Mr. St. John-Stevas

    In January 1972 there were 70 full-time and part-time pupils aged four in maintained nursery schools in Warley, together with 1,586 in maintained primary schools. Together these numbers were equivalent to 54·7 per cent. of births in 1967. In the whole of the West Midlands region at the same date, 2,867 pupils aged four were in maintained nursery schools and 28,816 in maintained primary schools. The total was equivalent to 33·7 per cent. of births in 1967.

    Primary Schools (Warley)

    Mr. Faulds

    asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of classes in primary schools in the area covered by the county borough of Warley has 30 or more pupils; and how this figure compares with the past three years.

    Mr. St. John-Stevas

    The percentage of maintained primary classes with more than 30 pupils was:

    January
    1972…………85·0
    1971…………88·9
    1970…………88·0
    1969…………82·5

    Nature Conservancy

    Mr. Dalyell

    asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress is being made with the restructuring of the Nature Conservancy.

    Mrs. Thatcher

    A Bill to set up a new Nature Conservancy Council was introduced in another place on 14th March.

    Mr. Dalyell

    asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make available the report of Mr. R. N. Heaton to the staff of the Nature Conservancy.

    Mrs. Thatcher

    No. Mr. Heaton's report was internal managerial advice, but consultation papers setting out the Government's proposals in the light of Mr. Heaton's recommendations have already been sent to the staff interests concerned.

    Mr. Dalyell

    asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make available the report of the visiting group under the Chairman of the National Environmental Research Council, which visited all Nature Conservancy stations, to the staff of the conservancy.

    Mrs. Thatcher

    This visiting group was appointed by the Natural Environment Research Council as a matter of internal management, and its findings will be confidential to the council.

    Expenditure

    Mr. Marks

    asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the annual increase in educational expenditure for each of the years since 1959 in cost and volume terms, together with the forecast increase for future years.

    Mrs. Thatcher

    The annual increases in education and libraries expenditure for financial years from 1968–69 to 1976–77, as calculated from Tables 2A and 2B of Cmnd. 5178, are:

    Financial YearsCost TermsVolume Terms
    %%
    1968–69 to 1969–70……2·61·8
    1969–70 to 1970–71……5·73·5
    1970–71 to 1971–72……5·86·7
    1971–72 to 1972–73……5·55·4
    1972–73 to 1973–74……5·23·6
    1973–74 to 1974–75……4·12·5
    1974–75 to 1975–76……5·43·9
    1975–76 to 1976–77……5·13·6
    For years before 1968–69 no reliable estimates are available on a year by year basis.

    Mr. Marks

    asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT educational expenditure for each of the years since 1959 as a percentage of gross national product, together with her forecast for future years, presuming a growth rate of 5 per cent. per annum in gross national product.

    Mrs. Thatcher

    Educational expenditure expressed as a percentage of gross national product for the financial year up to and including 1969–70 is published in Education Statistics for the United Kingdom, 1970, Table 41. For 1970–71 the percentage is provisionally estimated at 6·3 per cent. the same proportion as in 1969–70, and for 1971–72 at 6·6 per cent. Thereafter, assuming an arbitrary constant growth rate of 5 per cent. per year in gross national product, the projected percentages implied by the expenditure estimates in Cmnd. 5178 would be:

    Financial YearsPer cent.
    1972–73…………6·6
    1973–74…………6·7
    1974–75…………6·6
    1975–76…………6·6
    1976–77…………6·6

    Youth Employment Service

    Mr. Kinnock

    asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will introduce legislation to provide that local education authorities should provide a youth employment service for all young people up to the age of 18 years.

    Mr. Dudley Smith

    I have been asked to reply.The provisions of the Employment and Training Bill require local education authorities to provide such a service for all young people in and leaving education, and enable them to do so for others, up to and beyond the age of 18. A mandatory requirement in respect of young people who have entered employment is not considered necessary.

    Employment

    Warley, East

    Mr. Faulds

    asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the notified vacancies in the employment area covered by the proposed Warley, East constituency at the latest convenient date; and how these figures compare with the national figure.

    Mr. Dudley Smith

    On 7th February there were 360 unfilled vacancies in the area covered by the Smethwick employment exchange, which covers most of the proposed Warley, East constituency. In Great Britain as a whole there were 274,576. The figures relate only to notified vacancies remaining unfilled and do not purport to measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour.

    Mr. Faulds

    asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the numbers of unemployed in the employment area covered by the proposed Warley, East constituency at the latest convenient date; what percentages of the working population they represent; and how the percentage figure compares with the national percentage figure.

    Mr. Dudley Smith

    On 12th February there were 954 people unemployed in the area covered by the Smethwick employment exchange, which covers most of the proposed Warley, East constituency. The unemployment rate—numbers unemployed as a percentage of total employees —for the West Bromwich travel-to-work area, which includes Smethwick, was 2·0 per cent. A rate can be calculated for this area as a whole but not separately for Smethwick. For Great Britain the rate of unemployment was 3·2 per cent.

    Home Department

    Police (Complaints)

    Mr. Alfred Morris

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what consultations he has now had with the police service and with police authorities on his proposal to introduce arrangements, with an independent element for ex post facto reviews of the handling of complaints; and if he will make a statement on the progress of his consultations and the further steps he is taking;(2) what consultations he has arranged with the Police Federations on his proposal for

    ex post facto reviews of the handling of police complaints; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Carlisle

    The necessary preparatory work has now been completed and a meeting with police representative bodies, including the Police Federations, has been arranged for the week after next. This will be the first stage of a continuing process of consultation on the proposed new arrangements.

    Police Advisory Board

    Mr. Alfred Morris

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date the next meeting of the Police Advisory Board will take place; and if he will be in attendance.

    Mr. Carlisle

    The date has not yet been arranged. My right hon. Friend would expect to take the chair.

    Women Prisoners (Men's Prisons)

    Mr. Clinton Davis

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women prisoners remanded in custody are at present detained in men's prisons; and how many are at each prison.

    Mr. Carlisle

    Apart from women in the remand centres at Low Newton, Risley and Pucklechurch—which receive both men and women—there were five women held in men's prisons in England and Wales on 20th March. Three were at Brixton and two at Birmingham.

    Mr. Clinton Davis

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many women prisoners remanded in custody have been detained in men's prisons in each of the years 1970, 1971 and 1972 and up to the present time;(2) how many convicted women prisoners have been detained in men's prisons from 1970 up to the present time; and what were the circumstances of their transfer from women's prisons.

    Mr. Carlisle

    I regret that the information is not available and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

    Mr. Clinton Davis

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances women prisoners are moved from women's prisons to men's prisons.

    Mr. Carlisle

    The circumstances in which women may be held at a men's prison in England and Wales during a period of remand or committal for trial or sentence vary but include medical reasons, convenience of access to the court or the interests of security.

    Mr. Clinton Davis

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations have been made to him about women prisoners remanded in custody being detained in men's prisons.

    Remand Homes

    Mr. Cyril Smith

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many children in the No. 3 regional planning area, remanded to the care of local authorities, have had to be placed in the Risley remand centre, due to there being no places available at remand homes;(2) how many children there are in remand homes in the No. 3 regional planning area who, following assessment, are being held there pending permanent placement in other homes;(3) how many remand homes there are in No. 3 regional planning area; how many places in these homes are being left empty due to shortage of skilled staff; and how many vacancies there are for skilled staff in these homes.

    Sir K. Joseph

    I have been asked to reply.Since 1st January 1971 remand homes, like the other classes of establishment which are to form part of the community home system under the Children and Young Persons Act 1969, have been available for children in care generally; their use is not limited to those committed to care on remand, nor is a local authority to whose care a child or young person is so committed obliged to accommodate him in a remand home. On the inception of the community home system on 1st April 1973 remand homes will be incorporated in it.In the area referred to there are four remand homes for boys and six for girls. In the last quarter for which figures are available—July-September 1972—these establishments had 208 places for boys and 104 for girls; occupancy, averaged over the quarter, was 79·6 per cent. for boys and 68·3 per cent. for girls. Staffing is the responsibility of local authorities, as are the admission and transfer of children, and information as to the circumstances of the children and the effect of the staffing position on the number of admissions is not available centrally.In the period 20th December last to 19th March, 87 persons over 14 and under 17 were received at Risley remand centre after being certified by a court, under Section 23(2) or 23(3) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1969, as being of so unruly a character that they could not safely be committed to the care of a local authority. Such certification relates to the character of the accused, not the availability of places. Committal to a remand centre may be appropriate even though remand home accommodation is not fully occupied.

    Approved Schools (Disturbed Children)

    Mr. Cyril Smith

    asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the Government's policy on the provision of approved schools (community homes) for disturbed children, and for the recruitment and training of adequate staff for these schools.

    Sir K. Joseph

    I have been asked to reply.My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I will do all in our power to secure that local authorities develop the system of community homes, in accordance with regional plans made by authorities as required by the Children and Young Persons Act 1969 and approved by the Secretary of State concerned so as to make proper provision for the needs of children, including disturbed children, in authorities' care.Under Section 64 of the Act the Government are providing three homes for a small minority of children in care who require special facilities unlikely to be available in community homes. One such establishment has been opened and is being further developed; plans for the other two have been approved and their building is to be started this year.The recruitment of staff is the responsibility of their employers. The promotion of training in social work, including residential work, is the responsibility of the statutory Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work, supported and encouraged by the Government.

    National Finance

    Liquidations

    Mr. Peter Rees

    asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the assurance given by the then Attorney-General that the Revenue would not apply Section 460 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1970—then Section 28 of the Finance Act 1940—to an ordinary liquidation, he will ensure that it continues to honour that assurance.

    Mr. Nott

    I can assure my hon. and learned Friend that the Inland Revenue has not sought and will not seek to apply the provisions of Section 460 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1970 to ordinary liquidations.

    Taxation Of Incomes

    Mr. Peter Rees

    asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the aggregate amount of income tax and surtax paid,

    YearIncomeAll Investment Income †All Earned IncomeHalf Earned Income
    £ABABAB
    1945–4650,00024,851·1245,419·8724,776·1245,344·8724,776·1245,344·87
    1950–5150,00022,301·7345,014·2322,125·1544,837·6522,125·1544,837·65
    1964–6550,00019,113·7540,885·9318,516·4738,517·9718,516·4738,517·97
    1970–7150,00020,338·31*42,115·81*19,698·94*39,701·44*19,698·94*39,701·44*
    1973–7450,00039,418·75*— 32,218·75*— 35,668·75*—
    1945–4610,0004,851·126,857·374,776·126,782·374,776·126,782·37
    1950–5110,0004,301·736,489·234,125·156,312·654,125·156,312·65
    1964–6510,0003,613·755,658·513,016·473,829·323,229·384,220·98
    1970–7110,0003,851·355,896·203,198·94*4,012·44*3,442·914,435·16
    1973–7410,0004,503·75*— 3,303·75*— 3,753·75*—
    1945–465,0002,351·122,832·172,276·122,757·372,276·122,757·37
    1950–515,0002,051·732,564·231,875·152,387·651,875·152,387·65
    1964–655,0001,676·252,103·111,291·881,291·881,464·321,768·12
    1970–715,0001,788·852,215·761,380·401,380·401,563·971,868·22
    1973–745,0001,608·48— 1,165·50— 1,240·50—
    1945–462,000851·12851·12776·12776·12801·12801·12
    1950–512,000701·73701·73525·87525·87615·87615·87
    1964–652,000513·75513·75344·88344·88430·99430·99
    1970–712,000551·35551·35372·30372·30463·97463·97
    1973–742,000265·50— 265·50— 265·50—
    1945–461,000350·12350·12301·12301·12326·12326·12
    1950–511,000251·73251·73165·87165·87210·87210·87
    1964–65 1,000126·25126·2551·7351·7386·5486·54
    1970–711,000138·85138·8551·4751·4797·3097·30
    1973–741,000Nil—Nil— Nil—
    Note: Income tax is shown in column A and income tax plus surtax in column B. For 1973–74 the total tax is shown in column A.† Except for Family Allowance.

    * It is to the taxpayers advantage to forgo Family Allowance. Tax has been calculated on this basis.

    British Savings Bonds

    Mr. Edward Taylor

    asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is yet in a position to announce the date on which the new 8½ per cent. issue of British Savings Bonds will be put on sale.

    Mr. Nott

    Arrangements have now been made for the new bond to be put on sale on 7th May 1973.

    National Income (Eec Countries)

    Mr. Carter

    asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the following information for the years 1950, 1960, 1970, and the latest available date: gross national

    and the amount of income tax to be paid by a married man with two infant children with an income of £50,000, £10,000, £5,000, £2,000 and £1,000, on the basis that such income consisted entirely of unearned income, entirely of earned income, and half of earned income and half of unearned income for each of the following years, 1945–46, 1950–51, 1964– 65, 1970–71 and 1973–74 respectively.

    Mr. Nott

    The figures are:product per head of population, percentage of gross national product devoted to investment, percentage of gross national product devoted to personal consumption, average rate of economic growth for 10-year period, per head of population, average income expressed in dollars, for each of the Common Market countries.

    Mr. Nott

    The information is given in the tables below. Details of gross national product per head of population, the percentage of gross national product devoted to investment, the percentage of gross national product devoted to personal consumption and the average rate of growth for the previous 10 years, for France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom in 1950, 1960 and 1970 were given in answer to the hon. Member on 12th March.The estimates for gross national product and total personal income per

    GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH 1950, 1960, 1970 AND 1971
    GNP per head of population U.S. dollarsPercentage of GNP by PersonalAverage annual percentage rate of economic growth* in preceding 10 years
    Investmentconsumption
    Belgium
    1950………n.a.n.a.n.a.n.a.
    1960………1,25018·968·3n.a.
    1970 ………2,68022·459·65·0
    1971 ………2,94021·660·14·9
    Denmark
    1950 ………73015·873·5n.a.
    1960 ………1,30019·465·53·3
    1970 ………3,19022·060·84·9
    1971………3,46021·459·64·6
    France
    1971 ………3,18025·658·95·8
    Germany
    1971………3,40026·753·94·6
    Irish Republic
    1950 ………37016·680·9n.a.
    1960 ………66013·774·71·7
    1970………1,36021·467·94·2
    1971 ………1,54022·766·94·0
    Italy
    1971 ………1,87019·964·04·9
    Luxembourg
    1950 ………n.a.n.a.n.a.n.a.
    1960 ………1,57022·156·2n.a.
    1970 ………3,00026·153·73·4
    1971 ………3,03030·457·23·1
    Netherlands
    1950 ………49020·167·9n.a.
    1960………98023·456·84·7
    1970………2,46025·057·65·3
    1971………2,73025·056·95·4
    United Kingdom
    1971………2,43017·761·32·7
    * GNP at constant (1963) prices
    n.a. = Not available.
    TOTAL PERSONAL INCOME PER HEAD OF POPULATION
    U.S. dollars
    1950196019701971
    Belgium …n.a.1,1302,4502,720
    Denmark…6601,1602,720n.a.
    France…5801,1102,5202,780
    Germany …n.a.1,0902,6502,910
    Irish Republic…3305601,010n.a.
    Italy…n.a.n.a.1,6201,790
    Luxembourg…n.a.1,2902,460n.a.
    Netherlands…3908202,2902,570
    United Kingdom…6001,1101,8101,990
    = Not available
    Sources:National Accounts of OECD countries 1950–1968.EEC National Accounts 1961–1971.

    head of population have been converted to United States dollars at official exchange rates, but these do not necessarily reflect differences in internal purchasing power.

    Value Added Tax

    Mr. Peter Rees

    asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Value Added Tax (Cars) Amendment Order 1973, the Value Added Tax (Finance and Insurance) Order 1973 and the value added tax orders relating to food, charities and children's clothes will be available to the public at the Stationery Office.

    Mr. Higgins

    Industrial action by members of the Civil and Public Services Association has hitherto prevented the orders being made available to the public at the Stationery Office. I cannot yet say when they will be available. These orders were covered in Customs and Excise Press notices issued on Budget Day, and the zero-ratings of food and of young children's clothing and footwear are explained fully in the commissioners' notices Nos. 747 and 714.Information may be obtained from all local Customs VAT offices.

    Mr. David Steel

    asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to remove the additional cost of value added tax on persons with spinal complaints requiring chiropractic treatment.

    Mr. Higgins

    No. The reliefs from value added tax for medical services listed in Schedule 5, Group 7, to the Finance Act 1972 do not extend to those provided by practitioners such as chiropractors who are not medically registered.

    Mrs. Lena Jeger

    asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the difference in VAT liability between students who live in university halls of residence and those living in the hostels of registered charities.

    Mr. Higgins

    There is no relief from value added tax for students as such. The supply to students of board and accommodation in university halls of residence is exempt from VAT, as the supply of services incidental to the provision of exempt education. When supplied elsewhere, such as in guest houses, hotels and hostels, it is in principle taxable at the standard rate, but subject to a reduced basis of value after the first four weeks of residence. Exempt traders cannot claim back input tax whereas registered traders can.

    Purchase Tax Rebate

    Mr. Joel Barnett

    asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is his intention to pay cash in respect of the purchase tax rebate on stocks held at 31st March 1973, or whether it will be allowed as the credit against future VAT payments; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Higgins

    The rebate of purchase tax charged on stocks held for sale at 31st March 1973 will be treated as additional input tax deductible from a registered VAT trader's output tax at the end of his first VAT accounting period. If the total input tax exceeds the output tax the balance will be repaid. Details are given in Customs and Excise Notice No. 748.

    Posts And Telecommunications

    Broadcasting (Wales)

    Mr. Alec Jones

    asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will publish the terms of reference of the special inquiry into the coverage of broadcasting as it relates to Wales.

    Sir J. Eden

    I shall publish the full terms of reference in the near future, but paragraph 5 of Cmnd. 5244 in the meantime gives an indication of the nature of the inquiry.

    Scotland

    Oil Industry

    Mr. Eadie

    asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to ensure the provision of education and training for all levels of skilled manpower required by the oil industry and ancillary industries.

    Mr. Gordon Campbell

    Following the recommendations on this subject in the Report of the International Management and Engineering Group, the Government are taking steps to establish the oil industry's training and education needs and the additional provision required to meet them. My Department, which is associated with this exercise, has already issued full information on how the in- dustry can make effective use of the further education service.

    Physiotherapists (Training)

    Mr. Gourlay

    asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of students presently in training in the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary school of physiotherapists; how many new students were enrolled in 1970, 1971 and 1972, respectively; and what was the number of suitable applicants refused admission in respect of each of the above years.

    Mr. Gordon Campbell

    Following is the information:

    New Students EnrolledSuitable Applicants Refused Admission
    1970…2222
    1971…2423
    1972…2118
    There are 59 students presently in training.

    Teachers (Pension Rights)

    Mr. Lambie

    asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make provision for those teachers at present in service who will be denied full pension rights, because of the fact that their university course was interrupted by war service during 1939 to 1945, following the review of the Scottish teachers' superannuation scheme.

    Mr. Gordon Campbell

    I intend to make regulations later this year to enable teachers in pensionable service after 1st April 1972 to be able, subject to Inland Revenue limitations, to buy in as pensionable service at full cost any period after the age of 20 which they would not otherwise be entitled to count for pension, including any period of war service which is not pensionable under the Education (Scotland) (War Service Superannuation) Act 1939.

    Health Centres

    Mr. Wolrige-Gordon

    asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many health centres by location are now in operation in Scotland; how many are planned; and how this position compares with the end of 1971.

    Mr. Gordon Campbell

    The number of health centres in operation in Scotland at the end of February 1973 was 43, compared with 34 at the end of 1971. The numbers under construction on the same dates were respectively 17 and 13, and the number planned or under consideration, 125 and 116.Details of the location of these health centres are set out in the table below:

    HEALTH CENTRE PROJECTS— POSITION AT 28TH FEBRUARY 1973
    A. In Operation (43)
    Secretary of State:
    Edinburgh: Sighthill1953
    Stranraer1955
    Cumbernauld: Kildrum1963
    Huntly1965
    Cumbernauld: Central 11967
    Langholm1967
    Livingston: Craigshill1968
    Keith1969
    Crieff1969
    Kirkcudbright1970
    Glasgow: Woodside1971
    Wick1971
    Aberlour1971
    Grantown-on-Spey1971
    Biggar1972
    Jedburgh1972
    Selkirk1973
    Clydebank1973
    Dumbarton1973
    East Kilbride: Central1973
    Local Health Authority:
    Golspie1968
    Grangemouth1968
    Kilsyth1968
    Thurso1969
    Edinburgh: Springwell House1970
    Stenhousemuir1970
    Blackburn1970
    Tillicoultry1970
    Kilcreggan1971
    Garelochhead1971
    Blackridge1971
    Symington1971
    Markinch1971
    Bridge of Allan1971
    Inverbervie1971
    Lerwick1971
    Cowie1971
    Dundonald1971
    Peterculter1971
    Kincardine1971
    Newton Stewart1972
    Renfrew1972
    Bonnyrigg1972

    B. Under Construction ( 17)

    Secretary of State:

    • Airdrie
    • Alloa
    • Brechin
    • Broxburn
    • Castle Douglas
    • Edinburgh: Stockbridge
    • Forres
    • Glasgow: Govan
    • Glenrothes: West

    • Kirkwall
    • Livingston: Howden
    • Rothesay

    Local Health Authority:

    • Alva
    • High Valleyfield
    • Inverurie
    • Kirkliston
    • Linwood

    C. At Rental Stage or Tendering Stage ( 18)

    Secretary of State:

    • Auchinleck
    • Banff
    • Beith
    • Cupar
    • Glasgow: Gorbals
    • Kirkcaldy
    • Oakley: Fife
    • Rutherglen
    • Stornoway

    Local Health Authority:

    • Aberdeen: Upper Denburn
    • Blantyre
    • Burntisland
    • Cowdenbeath
    • Doune
    • East Kilbride: St. Leonards
    • South Queensferry
    • Stoneyburn
    • Winchburgh

    D. Plans Approved ( 7)

    Secretary of State:

    • Bathgate
    • Cumbernauld: Abronhill
    • Dingwall
    • Dufftown
    • Dundee: Crescent Lane
    • Friockheim
    • Glasgow: Royal Infirmary

    E. Plans under consideration ( 11)

    Secretary of State:

    • Aberdeen: Foresterhill
    • Alness
    • Arbroath
    • Cumbernauld: Central II
    • Dundee: Lochee
    • North Berwick
    • Peterhead

    Local Health Authority:

    • Edinburgh: Wester Hailes
    • Fyvie
    • Motherwell
    • Wishaw

    F. Functions defined and range of accommodation under consideration or sketch plans not yet prepared ( 29)

    Secretary of State:

    • Aviemore
    • Barrhead
    • Bo'ness
    • Bridge of Weir
    • Campbeltown
    • Clackmannan
    • Dollar
    • Douglas
    • East Calder
    • Erskine
    • Fort William
    • Glasgow: Bridgeton
    • Glasgow: Maryhill
    • Glasgow: Possilpark
    • Glasgow: Springburn
    • Glenrothes (South) Pitteuchar
    • Greenock
    • Invergordon
    • Irvine: Bourtreehill
    • Kinghorn
    • Kirriemuir
    • Livingston: Central
    • Paisley: North
    • Paisley: South
    • Peebles
    • St. Andrews
    • Tain
    • Ullapool

    Local Health Authority:

    • East Kilbride: Westwood

    G. Approval in principle ( 31)

    Secretary of State:

    • Alyth
    • Bishopton
    • Carnoustie
    • Coldstream
    • Dairy
    • Dundee: Ninewells
    • Dundee: Ryehill
    • Dyce
    • Elgin
    • Ellon
    • Girvan
    • Glasgow: Partick
    • Glenrothes: North
    • Gourock
    • Haddington
    • Irvine Burgh
    • Johnstone
    • Kilmarnock
    • Kilwinning
    • Lairg
    • Pathhead
    • Penicuik
    • Port Glasgow
    • Saltcoats/Ardrossan
    • Stewarton
    • Thornhill
    • Tranent
    • West Calder

    Local Health Authority:

    • Annan
    • Fauldhouse
    • Leven

    H. Others under consideration ( 29)

    Secretary of State:

    • Ayr Burgh
    • Baillieston/Shettleston
    • Banchory
    • Cumbernauld: Westfield/Condorrat
    • Cumbernauld: Eastfield
    • Dunblane
    • Duns
    • Edinburgh: Duddingston
    • Edinburgh: Firrhill

    • Edinburgh: Leith
    • Falkirk
    • Galashiels
    • Glasgow: Govanhill/Crosshill
    • Glasgow: Parkhead
    • Glasgow: Pollok
    • Lanark Burgh
    • Laurencekirk
    • Newbattle
    • Perth
    • Stevenston
    • Stonehaven
    • Turriff

    Local Health Authority:

    • Alexandria
    • Baillieston Bishopbriggs
    • Carluke
    • East Kilbride: Greenhills
    • Houston
    • Whitburn

    Beef (Paris Exhibition)

    Mr. Wolrige-Gordon

    asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has received any reports about the impact of Scottish beef at the recent agricultural exhibition in Paris; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Gordon Campbell

    The Scottish contribution made a considerable impact at this event. Sales of Scottish beef and lamb were particularly encouraging and demonstrate the important potential offered by the European market.

    Social Services

    Psychogeriatric Patients

    Mr. H. Boardman

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many beds will be available for psychogeriatric patients in the proposed new wards at Billinge Hospital and Atherleigh Hospital at Leigh; and whether they are intended for short or long-term stay;(2)if he will give comparative figures for other areas throughout the country to the 53 beds for psychogeriatric patients catering for a population of 300,000 represented by Billinge Hospital and Atherleigh Hospital at Leigh;(3) in view of the shortage of beds for psychogeriatric patients at Billinge Hospital and Atherleigh Hospital at Leigh, if he will state when building will commence of the proposed new wards at these two hospitals; and at what dates they are expected to be ready for occupation.

    Sir K. Joseph

    Sixty new beds for the short- and long-term care of elderly patients with severe dementia are already in use at Billinge Hospital to serve the population of the Wigan area. 47 existing beds at Atherleigh Hospital serve this purpose for the population of the Leigh area. In addition, planning is in progress for the early provision of a 60-bed unit at Leigh Infirmary to be used for both geriatric and psychogeriatric assessment; no firm date can be set for occupation of this unit. The existing number of beds for senile dementia patients in these areas meets the recommended planning norm of 2·5 to 3 beds per 1,000 elderly population which the Department has recently asked all hospital authorities to adopt for this part of their services. Comparable figures for other parts of the country are not available.

    Family Income Supplement

    Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his latest estimate of the number of persons eligible for family income supplement; how many are now drawing it; and what further steps he intends to take to publicise its availability.

    Mr. Dean

    At the end of January 1973, 79,000 families were receiving family income supplement. This is estimated to be about half the number eligible, though in the case of families entitled to £2 a week or more three-quarters are receiving the allowance. To coincide with next month's uprating there is to be a national Press and television advertising campaign; a combined FIS leaflet and claim form is to be issued by the Post Office to family allowance beneficiaries in the week commencing 9th April.

    Hospital Facilities, Nottinghamshire

    Mr. Bishop

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has for the improvement of hospital facilities serving the Nottinghamshire area.

    Mr. Alison

    Major improvements in hospital facilities are already under construction at Nottingham, Mansfield, Balderton, Worksop, Retford and Kilton. Planned expenditure up to 1975–76 on these schemes is approximately £30 mil- lion. Further major developments beyond 1975–76 are being planned by the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board.

    Four-Week Rule

    Mr. Kinnock

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in which of the standard regions the four-week rule was operative in (1) May and (2) November 1971 and 1972.

    Mr. Dean

    Following is the information:May 1971—Yorkshire and Humberside, East Midlands and East Anglia, West Midlands, North Western (Manchester), North Western (Merseyside), London North, London South, London West, South Western regions, and Wales.November 1971—East Midlands and East Anglia, West Midlands, London North, London South, London West, and South Western regions.May 1972—West Midlands, London South, London West, South Western and North Western (Merseyside) regions.November 1972—West Midlands, London North, London South, London West and South Western regions.Application of the rule depends on the local employment situation and not all offices in any of the regions mentioned were operating it at any given time.

    Medical Committees (Membership)

    Mr. Pavitt

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make regulations to prohibit a doctor who is commercially engaged in running a locum's and relief service from sitting on the local medical committee which has the responsibility of approving such services and of renewing approval after further examinations from time to time.

    Mr. Alison

    Responsibility for approving the use of a deputising service rests with the executive council, which how-

    Weekly pension for a contribution of £1 at pensionable ages
    6162636465
    Age at end of tax year:
    22…………·623·669·720·777·839
    25…………·557·598·644·695·751
    30…………·463·497·535·578·625
    35…………·383·412·444·480·519
    40…………·318·342·368·398·431
    45…………·262·282·304·329·356
    50…………·215·232·250·271·294
    55…………·176·189·204·221·240
    60…………·141·152·164·178·193

    ever is required to consult the local medical committee. Under Regulation 16( d) of the National Health Service (Executive Councils) Regulations 1969 an executive council may make standing orders providing that a member who has a pecuniary interest in a matter being discussed by the council or one of its committees shall disclose the fact and take no part in the discussion or decision.

    National Insurance Scheme

    Mr. Dell

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the reason for the difference of 2 million between the figures given in Table 6 of Command Paper No. 5143 for 1975–76 in respect of Class 1 and Class 2 membership of the National Insurance Scheme and the projected figures for working population in 1975 given on page 721 of the Department of Employment Gazette, August 1971.

    Mr. Dean

    The difference is largely due to the exclusion from the estimates in Table 6 of persons whose earnings are expected to be below the lower earnings limit for contribution liability under the new basic scheme.

    Pensions (Women)

    Mr. Dell

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will produce figures comparable to those in table 5 on page 11 of Command Paper No. 5143 showing the weekly pension per £1 of contribution if the pensionable age for women were 61, 62, 63, 64 and 65 years.

    Mr. Dean

    The amounts of weekly pension payable to women at pensionable ages ranging from 61 to 65, secured by a contribution of £1 paid into the reserve pension scheme at ages (at end of tax year) ranging from 22 to 60, are as follows:

    State Reserve Pension Scheme

    Mr. Dell

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he proposes to make regulations under the Social Security Bill to ensure that no occupational pension scheme can be recognised unless the employer contributes at least as much to the scheme as he would be required to contribute under the reserve pension scheme.

    Mr. George Cunningham

    asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the Government Actuary's estimate of the proportion of a man's contribution to the proposed State reserve pension scheme required to provide widow's benefits.

    Mr. Dean

    The proportion varies according to the age at which the contribution is paid, and is about 29 per cent. for ages up to 40 falling to 17 per cent. at age 64.

    Wales

    Mobile Classrooms

    Mr. Barry Jones

    asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what is the average cost of a mobile classroom employed by local education authorities in Wales; and what is his estimate of the value of mobile classrooms employed in each of the counties of Wales for both primary and secondary schools;(2) how many mobile classrooms are employed by local education authorities for their primary schools and for their secondary schools in each of the counties of Wales; and what is his estimate of the number of children both in primary and secondary schools taught in these temporary premises in each of the counties of Wales.

    Mr. Peter Thomas

    My Department does not collect statistics about the number of mobile classrooms nor the number of children housed in temporary buildings at maintained schools. The estimated average cost of providing a single mobile classroom is about £2,000.