asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many complaints about price rises have been notified to his department since the beginning of the price freeze.

11,850 by 23rd March.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on discussions with United States aviation authorities about transatlantic air fares after 1st April 1973.

We were unable to agree with the United States Government on new fares to apply on North Atlantic routes from 1st April, because they were unwilling to accept competitive advance booking fares and part charter arrangements sought by our airlines. The Governments concerned consider in these circumstances that the existing fares should continue in force, with adjustments to take account of changes in exchange rates, and the IATA airlines have agreed on proposals to this end.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with other member States of the EEC about a common textile trade policy.

We are actively engaged in discussions both with the Community and bilaterally with member States.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what were the values of imports from Japan and of exports to Japan in each of the last three years.

The published figures show that in the years 1970 to 1972, imports were £134 million, £201 million, and £314 million, valued cif; exports were £148 million, £157 million and £173 million, valued fob.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is satisfied with present trade arrangments with Japan in respect of opportunities for the exporting of British manufactured footwear.

Japan still restricts imports of leather footwear, but the opportunities are better than they were.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the new European Community general scheme of preferences will include a more or less extensive range of processed agricultural products than the present United Kingdom scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will seek to extend the new EEC general scheme of preferences to include more processed agricultural products.

The generalised scheme of preferences to be operated by the enlarged Community next year has not yet been determined; but it is being discussed by the Community against the background of the summit directive to aim at achieving a steady increase of imports from developing countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the progress he has made in creating new job opportunities in the Yorkshire and Humberside Region.

1,300 new jobs will be created by selective assistance applications so far decided and a further 2,700 new jobs are involved in applications now being processed. These figures do not include further job opportunities arising from regional development grants. In addition, unemployment in the region has in the last year fallen by over 26,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arrangements have been agreed for importing jute manufactures in 1973.

The United Kingdom quota arrangements covering imports of jute goods from India and Bangladesh have been continued for the first half of 1973 as an interim measure pending the conclusion of Community agreements with these countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in the light of recent public concern, he will increase the numbers of staff in his Department dealing with bankruptcy administration.

Staff requirements are reviewed regularly in the light of current needs, which do not at the moment call for an increase.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any proposals to replace the regional employment premium with another form of labour subsidy for the development areas.

I have no such proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what decision he has now reached on assisting Short Brothers and Harland with the full development and production of the 30-seater Skyvan for which preliminary work was sanctioned in August 1972.

Shorts has submitted detailed proposals for this aircraft to my right hon. Friend, who has them under active consideration. A decision will be announced as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of United Kingdom imports from developing countries would become dutiable if Great Britain adopts the existing EEC general scheme of preferences.

Such an assessment would require so many assumptions to be made about trade flows for individual products and commodities that it would not be meaningful.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recommendations have been made to the Council of Ministers by the EEC Commission about the development prospects of the mechanical engineering industry in the South of Italy.

I am not aware of any such recommendations regarding this study which, I understand, has been undertaken with Commission assistance at the request of the Italian Government and is not yet completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if member Governments of the EEC are allowed by EEC rules to pay subsidies to exporters to offset the effects of domestic inflation on prices.

Subsidies on exports to other member countries are contrary to the provisions of the Treaty of Rome, but there are no EEC rules prohibiting subsidies on exports outside the Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his estimate of the workforce employed in the State steel industry by 1983; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the table in paragraph 43 of the recent White Paper on the British Steel Corporation's 10-year development strategy. This indicated that there could be a net reduction of some 50,000 to 180,000 in British Steel Corporation employment over the period.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the north regional industrial development certificate approvals for each of the years 1967 to 1971, the estimated additional employment involved and the figures, approvals and estimates, following the abolition of IDC control in July 1972.

Since the abolition of IDC control in the development and special development areas in July 1972 one IDC has been approved in the Northern Region's intermediate area. It is hoped that a system of collecting information about additional employment based on planning approvals will be introduced shortly.Since January 1973 the total number of unemployed in the Northern Region has fallen by 11,230 and the total number of notified unfilled vacancies has risen by 5,060.Following is the information:

INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATE APPROVALS IN THE NORTHERN REGION FOR SCHEMES OF 15,000 SQ. FT. AND OVER
Year			Number	Estimated additional employment*
1967	…	…	116	15,060
1968	…	…	134	16,880
1969	…	…	129	13,920
1970	…	…	130	15,390
1971	…	…	81	4,460
* Jobs estimated by the applicants to arise when the projects are complete and fully manned.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many advance factories are under construction in the Northern Region; how many of those completed have not been taken up by a tenant; and how many have not been occupied for more than six months.

Three are under construction and four completed but not yet allocated. These four have been unoccupied for more than six months. They will continue to be drawn to the attention of possible occupiers at every opportunity.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many applications for industrial development certificates are currently being examined for the Northern Region.

None. Industrial development certificates have not been required in development and special development areas since 19th July 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on investment trends in industry in the Northern Region; what effect the relaxation of control on industrial development certificates has had on investment; and how the rate of inquiries for industrial development currently compares with a similar period in 1970–71 and 1972.

IDC control was abolished in the development and special development areas and the exemption limits raised elsewhere in July 1972. The new regional development incentives came into effect in August 1972. Measures such as these take some time to make an impact on the investment decisions of firms, and at this stage reliable trends cannot be identified. The indications are however encouraging; for example, visits by industrialists to the Northern Region are running at a higher rate and are as follows:

1970	…	122
1971	…	110
1972	…	194
January and February 1973	…	41

Additionally, since January 1973 the total number of unemployed in the Northern Region has fallen by 11,230 and the total number of unfilled vacancies has risen by 5,060.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will seek to acquire a majority holding in BSA Ltd.

No, Sir. In his statement of 19th March, my right hon. Friend the Minister for Industrial Development indicated that proposals had been made to him by Manganese Bronze Holdings Ltd. for Government assistance to be given to a new motor cycle company. These proposals are being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new manufacturing firms have come into Wales in the first two months of 1973.

I am not aware that any such companies began manufacturing in this period, though five companies then notified their firm intention to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many aircraft departed from London Heathrow Airport between 11.30 p.m. and 6 a.m. during the four months commencing 1st November 1972; and how many of these were passenger aircraft.

There were 1,481 departures during the period, of which 528 were by jet aircraft. Figures for passenger aircraft are not readily available, partly because non-jet aircraft are not subject to restriction at any time; but further information will be supplied as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in view of the recently announced removal of quantitative restrictions on cotton yarn imports from the EEC Mediterranean associates, what action he plans to take against those associate members which operate a system of unfair practices against the United Kingdom.

The EEC agreements which provide for the removal of these restrictions also contain safeguards which may be invoked if serious economic disturbances arise either in the Community or in a member State.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent research he has undertaken for the purposes of protecting the consumer to ensure the validity of claims that enzymes contained in washing powder remove stains; and if he will make a statement.

None. It would be quite impracticable for me to check every claim made by a manufacturer for his goods and I am under no obligation to do so. It is an offence under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 to apply a false or misleading trade description to any goods, and anyone who does so is liable to be prosecuted by the local weights and measures authorities who enforce this Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in view of the problems facing the British bearings industry as the result of Japanese competition, the effects of price restraint and the consequent curtailment of investment, he will consult further with the industry as to its future rôle.

My Department is always ready to discuss with the British bearings industry any matters affecting its future.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what applications for assistance have been made by the bearing industry under the Industry Act; and if he will make a statement.

By 20th March three firms classified under Minimum List Heading 349½1 had applied for selective financial assistance under Part II of the Industry Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he has taken recently to promote greater safety of navigation on the Thames; and in particular whether he will ensure that representations are made to the Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organisation that all commercial vessels and other large craft are fitted with the VHF radio communication system and generally make use of the Port of London Authority's facilities for safe navigation.

Representations to IMCO are not considered necessary: the Port of London Authority is considering restricting the movement of ships unless they are fitted with VHF equipment as are more than 90 per cent. of vessels entering the Thames. My Department is also in touch with Trinity House and the Chamber of Shipping about pilotage.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the present calculation of radioactive waste, in cubic metres, annually as a result of nuclear power plants; and what is the expected increase during the seventies.

The reprocessing of fuel from nuclear power stations is at present giving rise to concentrated liquid wastes at the rate of about 60 cubic metres a year and significantly contaminated solids at the rate of about 500 cubic metres a year. By 1980 the former figure is likely to increase to an average of about 100 cubic metres a year: the total volume in store at 1980 is not expected to exceed 1,200 cubic metres. The rate of accumulation of contaminated solids is dependent on the type of fuel to be processed, as well as on its volume, but might double over the same period.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will offer aid to shipyards in Dundee to assist them in obtaining orders for Post Office cable ships; and whether he will make a statement.

No. I understand that competitive tenders for these ships are at present being assessed by the Post Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he proposes to take steps to metricate sugar and flour.

Discussions are taking place with manufacturers of sugar and flour in light of the considerations set out in the White Paper on Metrication (Cmnd. 4880).

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he now expects to publish his recommendations for legislation to abolish pyramid selling.

I intend to publish proposals for dealing with pyramid selling very soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the value of computer facilities installed in Government Departments, nationalised industry offices, public corporation offices and other public agencies directly responsible to Her Majesty's Government and universities in Scotland in the past 10 years; and what proportion of this expenditure was placed with companies which have major computer-manufacturing plants in Scotland.

Accurate figures for a period of 10 years are not readily obtainable. The estimated total value, when acquired, of computer facilities installed in Government Departments and other public sector offices and institutions in Scotland, excluding local authorities, was approximately £16 million, about 18 per cent. of which represented computers purchased from companies with major computer manufacturing facilities in Scotland. These companies also supply public sector bodies in other parts of the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many British shipping companies are observing ILO Recommendation 109, that foreign seamen employed on their vessels should be paid the minimum rate of £48 or the equivalent of $115;(2) what steps he takes to see that British shipowners observe ILO Recommendation 109 on minimum payments to foreign seafarers employed on their vessels.

My Department has brought the ILO recommendation and the 1970 resolution updating the rate to the notice of the shipping industry but does not collect information on the wage rates which are negotiated.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy to obtain a stake in new companies constructing nuclear power stations so as to allow considerations of national interest to be taken into account in negotiations for the development of British and European construction programmes.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend's statement on 22nd March on the setting up of a new company in which the Government will have a stake through the Atomic Energy Authority, and reserved rights.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what number of jobs he expects to disappear in the British Steel Corporation's works in England if development proceeds along the lines set out in his recent White Paper.

I would refer the hon. Member to the table in paragraph 43 of the recent White Paper on the BSC's 10-year development strategy. This indicates that the net reduction in BSC employment in England over the period could total 26,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many licences are now issued for North Sea oil exploration; how many are held by foreign and substantially foreign-controlled companies; and what is the total British share of the holdings.

One hundred and sixty-three exclusive production licences, which permit exploration as well, are currently in force. As many licences are granted to groups of companies, often United Kingdom and foreign-owned companies in association, it is not possible to attribute licence ownership by nationality. However, out of a total of 220 named licencees 151 are United Kingdom subsidiaries of foreign or substantially foreign concerns. Calculated on the basis of the area of territory under licence, the British share of territory on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf as whole, taking Shell as 40 per cent. British, is 32 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the total amount of grant claimed under the Development of Tourism Act for the construction of new hotels of more than 100 bedrooms; and what is the percentage of this expenditure which will be incurred in each of the economic development council areas of the United Kingdom.

The Hotel Development Incentives Scheme is administered by the national tourist boards. They publish information in their annual reports on the amount of grant claimed under the Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which countries within the EEC have, in their national Governments, a Minister whose sole or whose main responsibility has to do with tourism.

I understand that none has a Minister solely responsible for tourism. Italy has a Minister for tourism and public entertainment, although I cannot say which is the major responsibility.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many prosecutions were initiated by his Department under the Advertisements (Hire Purchase) Acts of 1957 and 1967 in each of the years from 1958 to 1972, inclusive; how many of these were successful in each year; and what was the yearly total of fines imposed.

The following are the figures. However, my Department is not solely responsible for enforcing this legislation and local weights and measures authorities have increasingly taken action to enforce it in recent years. I have no record of prosecutions by them or by other persons.

PROSECUTIONS BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER THE ADVERTISEMENTS (HIRE PURCHASE) ACTS 1957 AND 1967
Year			Number of prosecutions	Number of Guilty Findings	Total Fines Imposed
					£
1958	…	…	2	2	12
1959	…	…	—	—	—
1960	…	…	22	18	179
1961	…	…	7	5	146
1962	…	…	11	10	84
1963	…	…	9	9	130
1964	…	…	3	3	10
1965	…	…	2	2	40
1966	…	…	8	8	210
1967	…	…	2	2	65
1968	…	…	2	2	35
1969	…	…	1	1	10
1970	…	…	—	—	—
1971	…	…	—	—	—
1972	…	…	—	—	—
1973	(to date)		1	1	40
			70	63	961

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the organisations and individuals who have made representations to the West Cumberland Task Force created by his Department.

The task force has consulted the right hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Peart), the hon. Member for Whitehaven (Dr. John A. Cunningham), and the following:

• The Lord Lieutenant of Cumberland.
• Cumberland County Council.
• Cockermouth Urban District Council.
• Ennerdale Rural District Council.
• Maryport Urban District Council.
• Whitehaven Municipal Borough Council.
• Workington Municipal Borough Council.
• The British Steel Corporation.
• The National Coal Board.
• The National Union of Mineworkers.
• The British Association of Colliery Management.
• The National Association of Colliery Overmen Deputies and Shotblasters.
• The Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers.
• The Boilermakers Society.
• The Heating and Domestic Engineers Union.
• The Transport and General Workers Union.
• Workington Labour Party.
• Cumberland Development Council.
• West Cumberland Productivity Association.
• Aloo International Waste Disposal.
• British Bata Shoe Co.
• British Nuclear Fuels Ltd.
• Cleator Moor Brewery Co., Ltd.
• Crystallised Confections (Tip Top) Ltd.
• Cumberland Scientific Instruments.
• Distington Engineering Co.
• Dorman Smith Fuses Ltd.
• Dutton and Reinisch Ltd.
• Fischer and Porter Ltd.
• GEC Elliott Process Instruments Ltd.
• High Duty Alloys Ltd.
• Kangol Wear Ltd.
• Leyland National Co., Ltd.
• Millers (Great Yarmouth) Ltd.
• Millson Engineering Ltd.
• Palymyra Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
• Piam Engineering Ltd.
• Allan Pidgeon Ltd.
• J. Pirt and Sons, Ltd.
• Polkinghorne Industries Ltd.
• Royal Naval Armament Depot Broughton Moor.
• Seidners (Seagull Products) Ltd.
• Sekers Ltd.
• C. Slater (Risehow) Ltd.
• Spillers International (Tyne Brand) Ltd.
• Vale Carpet Co., Ltd.
• James Walker Co., Ltd.
• West Cumberland Farmers Trading Society Ltd.
• J. Wharton and Sons Ltd.
• Workington Rugby League Club.
• R. Lyon Wyllie, Esq.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received concerning plutonium poisoning amongst workers in the nuclear power industries and research establishments; and if he will make a statement.

I have received no such representations and am satisfied that careful attention is being paid to all aspects of the plutonium hazard by the organisations concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of waste motor oil in the United Kingdom is refined annually; how the remainder is disposed of; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.I have no reliable figure, but it is believed that less than half of the waste oil removed from motor vehicles is refined for reuse. The remainder is disposed of in a variety of ways, including use as a fuel. A Departmental Working Group on Awkward Household Wastes is considering problems of disposal and reuse of waste motor oil from "do-it-yourself" motorists.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his estimate of the percentage of oil pollution of rivers and the coastline which is caused by the disposal of spent oil by the motor and engineering industries.

I have been asked to reply.No meaningful estimate can be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which regulations control the disposal of waste oil and lubricants by the motor and engineering industries; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.There are no regulations controlling the disposal of these wastes as such but when they are disposed of on land the Deposit of Poisonous Waste Act 1972 requires notice to be given to the local authority and river authority concerned. Disposal in an unacceptable way could, according to the circumstances, be an offence under one or more of the following provisions:The Public Health Act 1936. Under Section 27 it is an offence to put various matter, including oil made from petroleum, into a public sewer, or into any drain or sewer connecting with a public sewer.The Water Act 1945. Under Section 21 it is an offence to cause pollution of the water of any well, borehole, spring or adit used for human consumption or domestic purposes, or for manufacturing food or drink for human consumption.The Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) Act 1951. Under Section 2 it is an offence to cause or knowingly permit to enter a stream any poisonous, noxious or polluting matter.The Water Resources Act 1963. Under Section 72 it is an offence to discharge any poisonous, noxious or polluting matter by means of any well, borehole or pipe into any underground strata, except with the consent of the river authority for the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the total annual consumption of oil for lubrication purposes by the motor industry in Great Britain; and what records his Department keeps on the methods of disposal of spent lubricants.

Statistics of annual consumption of oil for lubrication purposes by the motor industry in Great Britain are not available in the Department, nor are there any records of the method of disposal of spent lubricants.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what plans he has to aid the modernisation of mills and equipment in the wool textile industry in the West Riding;(2) what plans he has to ensure that the present satisfactory state of the wool textile industry is maintained.

The Yorkshire and Humberside Region has been designated an intermediate area and wool textile firms in the West Riding can benefit from the provisions of Section 1 of the Industry Act 1972. In addition, an industry-wide scheme for assistance for wool textile firms is under discussion in the Wool Textile Industry Economic Development Committee. When the scheme has been finally agreed, it will be submitted to my Department. The objective of the scheme would, I understand, be to encourage firms in the industry to further modernise and rationalise production, to achieve greater efficiency and improve profitability and working conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the future of the low-cost woollen industry in the West Riding.

In September 1972, the Economic Development Committee for the Wool Textile Industry published a detailed study carried out by independent consultants "Re-Claiming in the 70's; The Future of the Low-Cost Woollen Sector". It is for firms and trade associations in this sector to consider how to implement the recommendations of the study. Since this sector uses mainly reclaimed fibres, the implications of the study may now need to be reappraised in the light of the greatly increased cost of new wool which has improved the competitive position of low-cost woollens. This sector of the industry is, of course, also eligible for assistance under the Industry Act 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the companies approached by his Department with a request that they adopt a voluntary code of conduct for second mortgages, showing those that have replied in the affirmative and those who have not.

So far replies have been received to over 60 per cent. of the letters which were sent personally to the chairmen of companies holding Section 123 certificates. Most of these replies have indicated willingness to adopt the voluntary code although in a few instances clarification of some aspects has been sought. I will consider whether the action proposed would be appropriate when all replies have been received.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Government leaflets on the effect of VAT which are being made available from post offices will also be available to firms and traders for distribution to their customers.

I have been asked to reply.The distribution of leaflets through post offices, together with the extensive Press advertising campaign, should ensure that this information on the effect on prices of the introduction of VAT and the abolition of purchase tax and SET is generally available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will move to appoint a Select Committee specifically to examine the Estimates of the Welsh Office.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the number of employees in Wales in the coalmining industry in 1964, 1968, 1970 and 1972.

The number of employees in the coalmining industry in Wales was as follows: in 1964 90,400; 1968 60,700; 1970 49,000; 1971—the latest available figure—44,300.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the number of employees in Wales in the steel industry in 1964, 1968, 1970 and 1972.

The number of employees in the steel industry in Wales was as follows: 1964 78,000; 1968 75,100; 1970 75,900; 1971—the latest available figure—71,300.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the number of people in civil employment in Wales in 1964, 1968, 1970 and 1972.

The number of persons estimated to be in civil employment in Wales in each year is as follows: 1964, 1,085,000; 1968, 1,054,000; 1970, 1,035,000; 1971—latest available figure —1,030,000.From 1969 the estimates include improved information about the location of employees in employment in the Distributive Trades. Figures for 1968, 1970 and 1971 are subject to amendment in the light of the 1971 Census of Population. Estimates of civil employment in 1972 have not yet been published.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will request the Welsh Council to investigate the likely effects upon the Welsh economy of the migration to Wales of workers from EEC countries.

The Welsh Council has already considered this matter in its Report "Wales and the Common Market".

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many houses in the private sector have been completed in each of the Heads of Valley's authorities for 1971 and 1972.

Private sector completions in 1971 and 1972 were:

PRIVATE SECTOR COMPLETIONS
Local Authorities	1971	1972
Aberdare UDC	66	43
Mountain Ash UDC	18	17
Merthyr Tydfil CBC	59	51
Vaynor and Penderyn RDC	10	6
Brynmawr UDC	2	6
GelligaerUDC	16	158
Rhymney UDC	—	—
Tredegar UDC	14	14
Ebbw Vale UDC	17	12
Abertillery UDC	9	7
Bedwellty UDC	103	85
Blaenavon UDC	1	—
Nantyglo and Blaina UDC	4	17
Mynyddislwyn UDC	89	84
Caerphilly UDC	230	273
Total	638	773

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many houses in the public sector have been completed in each of the Heads of the Valley authorities for 1971 and 1972.

Local authority and other public sector completions were:

Local Authorities	1971	1972
Aberdare UDC	137	47
Mountain Ash UDC	61	56
Merthyr Tydfil CBC	375	221
Vaynor and Penderyn RDC	—	—
Brynmawr RDC	24	—
Gelligaer UDC	87	—
Rhymney UDC	150	99
Tredegar UDC	56	55
Ebbw Vale UDC	242	15
Abertillery UDC	55	92
Bedwellty UDC	234	—
Blaenavon UDC	29	16
Nantyglo and Blaina UDC	—	3
Mynyddislwyn UDC	24	19
Caerphilly UDC	86	24
Total	1,560	647

In addition housing associations and Government departments were responsible for one completion in Gelligaer in 1971 and 30 in Aberdare during the first nine months of 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what relationship the ratio of NHS doctors to patients in Wales of 1:1082 bears to the comparable figures for mid-Wales and for England, respectively.

The comparable figure for England is 1:1091. It is not practicable to provide a meaningful figure for Mid-Wales as so many of the hospitals serving the area also serve other areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has received the report of the Stembridge/Cheriton Valley Caravans Appeals Tribunal held in the Gower constituency last November; and if he will make a statement.

I have received the inspector's report and hope to issue my decision shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he will take to minimise the hardship and disruption caused to Lambeth residents by the construction of Ringway 1.

The Greater London Council, which will be the highway authority for Ringway 1, will, when planning the detailed alignment, of course have full regard to the provisions of the Land Compensation Bill, and to the report of the Urban Motorways Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what have been the movements in house building figures for rural areas in recent years; if he is satisfied therewith; and if he will make a statement.

Starts in rural districts in 1972 were 28 per cent. up on 1970 and completions 4½ per cent. up.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when the structure plan for the major growth area Reading/ Wokingham/Aldershot/Basingstoke will be published;(2) what discussions he proposes holding with the appropriate local authorities before the publication of the structure plan for the major growth area of Reading/Wokingham/Aldershot/Basingstoke.

This is a matter primarily for the local planning authorities; I understand that publication is likely to take place during 1975.Discussions between the Department and the local planning authorities are already taking place and will continue throughout the early stages of the preparation of the plan.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will be able to hold a local inquiry into Surrey County Council's proposal for a gipsy caravan site at Lyne.

A proposal to hold this inquiry on 14th August 1973 has been put to Surrey County Council.

Irvine asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the hon. Member for Rye may expect a reply to his letter of 7th November 1972 enclosing one from his constituent, Mr. Roger Pennington, of Din-nages, Broad Oak, Heathfield, Sussex, about the Local Government Act and his further inquiries about his letter of 7th November forwarded on 18th December and 20th February.

I have written to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he is having with the Greater London Council about planning applications for heliports in London; and if he will make a statement about standards of environmental acceptability for helicopter services.

No discussions are taking place although my right hon. and learned Friend would consider carefully any application which came before him. Guidance has not been given on standards of environmental acceptability and local planning authorities examine individual applications on their merits. The effect of noise is clearly relevant.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take steps to expedite the decision on the proposals to build council houses at Lower Seabridge Farm, Newcastle, Staffs.; and whether he will make a statement.

This proposal is the subject of an appeal by the borough council of Newcastle-under-Lyme against the failure of the Staffordshire County Council to determine an application for planning permission. The appeal is proceeding by the exchange of written statements, but, there has been some delay in receiving the county council's statement. The county council has now sent its statement to the Department and a copy to the borough council.Now the statement has been received, the appeal will be dealt with as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce legislation to make it illegal to introduce a term restricting the keeping of one pet animal in all landlord and tenant agreements, subject to a condition that the said animal shall cause no damage to the building concerned or to the quiet enjoyment of other occupants.

I do not think that legislation for this purpose would be appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has approved loan sanction, under Circular 2/70, for the conversion of the Corn Exchange, Ipswich, as a multi-purpose concert hall.

Local authorities are now given an annual borrowing allocation for local schemes of their own choice including conversion works of this sort. Ipwich's allocation for 1973–74 is £883,000. Grant of loan sanction in this way is subject to compliance with any statutory requirement affecting a particular scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the percentage by which the wearing of crash helmets by motor cyclists involved in road accidents reduces the risk of serious injury or death.

I estimate that the risk of serious injury is reduced by about 10 per cent. and the risk of death by about 40 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average waiting period at each of the driving test centres in Sutton, Wallington and Morden for applicants wishing to take a test on the next available date.

Fourteen, 14 and 18 weeks respectively. More examiners are being recruited for these and other centres.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many examiners are employed at each of the driving test centres in Sutton, Wallington and Morden.

Two, 6 and 6 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many appeals have been made from the decisions of local planning authorities in England and Wales on minerals to him in each of the past five years; and what is the percentage of refusals in the first and last year for which figures are available.

Statistics are not available of the number of planning appeals concerning mineral working made, but the number of appeals decided for each of the past five years is shown below:

Year					No. of Appeals
1972	…	…	…	…	26
1971	…	…	…	…	29
1970	…	…	…	…	31
1969	…	…	…	…	38
1968	…	…	…	…	34

61·5 per cent. of those appeals decided in 1972 were dismissed and 44·1 per cent. of those decided in 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects that a start will be made on the construction of the Chester southerly bypass.

Spring 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his consideration of the scheme to develop a port and related industries at the mouth of the Usk, with reference in particular to his consideration of the proposal to develop the flats east of Newport.

No proposals for such a scheme have been received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he has taken to have Scottish interests taken into account when Ministers of Environment meet in the EEC Council of Ministers on 28th-30th March.

I assume that the hon. Member has in mind the Council of Europe's European Ministerial Conference on the Environment from 28th-30th March. My Department has closely con-culted Scottish Departments concerned throughout the preparations for this conference.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what figures are available to indicate the number of people who have acquired second homes during the period 1960 to 1972.

I regret that no such figures are available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a report on the progress so far achieved with the national tree planting campaign.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Handsworth on 7th March 1973. I will send him a copy of the Tree Planting Year newsletter.—[Vol. 852, c. 129 and 130.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number of private motor vehicles registered at the latest available date; and what is the latest estimate of the number of families owning two or more cars.

There were 12,700,000 private cars and private vans licensed in Great Britain in the third quarter of 1972. In 1971, 1,500,000 households had the use of two or more such vehicles.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take no irreversible action on the proposed motorway service area at Detling on the M20 until he has received the report of the national survey on nation-wide requirements of service areas.

No. The survey is concerned with facilities provided at motorway service areas, and is not related to their siting.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will give his estimate, from information available to him, of the average percentage of retail turnover represented by business rents; and if he will make a statement;(2) what estimate he has made of the relationship between business rents and the effect on retail prices; and if he will make a statement.

The relationships of business rents to retail prices and to retail turnover are among matters included in the consideration being given to longer term policy for business rents, and I regret that estimates are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the retail trade as to the effect on prices of business rents; and if he will make a statement.

Representative bodies in the retail trade have been invited to send in representations on the policy to be adopted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received on his policy to control business rents; and if he will list the firms or organisations involved.

About four-fifths of the 1,500 representations received since the end of January have been telephone calls. Records relating to the remainder do not distinguish between those where the prime purpose was to make representations about policy and those whose purpose was simply to obtain information; and indeed it would often be impossible to make such a distinction. Included in these communications were points of principle made by many representatives of landlords, tenants, developers and professional advisers in this field.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment on what date he expects the M25 motorway from the M3 motorway to the A30 near Egham to be open; and, once the traffic has found its level, what proportion of eastbound traffic on the M3 he expects to turn northwards on this part of the M25.

Subject to the completion of the necessary procedures, autumn 1975; about half the eastbound traffic on the M3 may be expected to use this road.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment on what date he now expects the A305 improvement scheme between the eastern end of the M3 at Sunbury and the Hope and Anchor roundabout at Hanworth to be open to traffic; and on what date he now expects the scheme to be completed.

Dual two-lane carriageways are expected to be open to traffic in spring 1974. Completion of the full scheme is expected in summer 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps designed to ensure that tenants in the properties affected are informed of the extension of the protection of the Rent Act to tenants in properties in London with rateable values currently between £400 and £600 a year or up to £1,500 a year after 1st April 1973.

Resulting in part no doubt from my hon. Friend's efforts, this information already seems widely known, but I am of course taking steps to underline his message.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment on what date he now expects the M3 motorway from Bagshot to Sunbury to be open to traffic.

Spring 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the methods of disposal of radioactive waste currently used by the nuclear reactor installations in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

The principal radioactive wastes from nuclear reactor installations are gaseous and liquid. Gaseous discharges, after treatment where necessary, are released to the atmosphere. Liquid wastes, after treatment where necessary, are diluted by cooling water before being discharged direct to water-courses or the sea. In one case they are discharged to a lake and, in the case of some minor installations, to sewers. Low activity solid waste, which is well below the level of any danger to the public, is sometimes disposed of to local tips.All disposals are subject to authorisations granted by the appropriate Ministers which restrict them to levels which ensure that no public health hazard arises; and to cover no more than the essential requirements of the installation concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many acres of land are currently sterilised by use as dumping areas for radioactive waste in West Cumberland and Great Britain as a whole; at what annual rate the total area is growing; and if he will make a statement.

The areas currently reserved for this purpose total about 250 acres in West Cumberland-only a small part of which is actually in use—and 10 acres elsewhere. There are no plans at present to extend these areas.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the number and value of applications under the Farm Capital Grant Scheme in the last quarters of 1971 and 1972, respectively.

The number of applications received in the United Kingdom under the farm capital grant schemes in the last quarters of 1971 and 1972 were 32,282 and 18,676 respectively. It is regretted that the value of these applications is not recorded.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current rate of applications under the Farm Capital Grant Scheme; and how this compares with previous years.

The number of applications received in the United Kingdom under the Farm Capital Scheme in the three months December to February 1971–72 and 1972–73 were 55,306 and 25,666 respectively.

asked the Minister of Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, at the current rate of applications and at the current average value of approvals, what will be the Exchequer saving as a result of the 10 per cent. cut in the Farm Capital Grant Scheme.

By reducing the standard rate of grant by 10 percentage points it is estimated that a saving of approximately £15 million per annum will be achieved in the United Kingdom in a full year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what he expects will be the effect of the 10 per cent. cut on the number of applications for the Farm Capital Grant Scheme.

The number of applications depends on several factors and it is not possible to make any precise statement of the separate effect of the change in the rate of grant for some items in the FCGS.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether any butter has been disposed of in the United Kingdom in accordance with Regulation 71/73 of the EEC.

We understand from trade sources that some butter sold under Regulation 71/73 was imported into the United Kingdom from Holland before the regulation was amended to ensure that all such butter was sold outside the enlarged Community.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if any part of the estimated £47·1 million from FEOGA funds for the year 1973–74 reflects possible income for United Kingdom hill farming areas arising from acceptance by the Council of Ministers of Draft Directive R/523/73 (AGRI 166) (FIN 117).

No. The draft directive has not yet been approved by the Council.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will itemise the chief categories of estimated revenue that the United Kingdom will receive from FEOGA funds for the years 1972–73 and 1973–74 as stated in the Annual Review of Agriculture, 1973, Command Paper No. 5254.

The information is given for 1972–73, in the Supply Estimates (class V, 10A, Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce): supplementary estimate dated 18th December, 1972: and for 1973–74 in the Supply Estimates (class V, 12: Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce).