asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of recent prosecutions of accommodation agencies, he is satisfied with the operation of the Accommodation Agencies Act 1953 and, in particular, with the penalties provided thereunder; and if he will make a statement.

I have no evidence suggesting that the courts find the penalties under the Act inadequate or that its operation gives rise to unreasonable difficulty.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will direct local authorities to make it a condition for tenders for building work contracts that firms tendering should employ indentured apprentices.

No. I have no power to direct local authorities to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now increase the maximum permitted discount on the sale to tenants of houses of the Commission for New Towns from 20 to 30 per cent.

I have no present plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action is taken by his Department to encourage the location of office buildings in the development areas when an application is received for an office development permit.

Movement of office jobs to the assisted areas is encouraged whenever possible, for example, by discussing with applicants for office development permits, where appropriate, the possibility of locating some or all of their offices outside London and the South East.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is aware that many cars have been the subject of recall by their manufacturers for safety-related vehicle defects in the last six years; and what is his estimate of the percentage put right.

As to the first part of the Question, yes. As to the second, I refer the hon. Member to my reply to his Question on 14th February.—[Vol. 850, c. 340.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it a condition of future concessions for garages on motorways that there shall be in each case a full range of engineering services for motorists.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many garage concessions have been granted on motorways; in how many the service to motorists includes a reasonable range of engineering services; and how many are merely stations for the sale of petrol and oil.

Thirty-four concessions have been granted to provide facilities including refuelling, breakdown—emergency repairs—refreshments, parking, toilets and telephones.All except one provide breakdown and emergency repair facilities; the exception is Heston where local garages offer convenient and adequate services. None merely sell petrol and oil.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to discourage local highway authorities from raking out a middle lane common to vehicles overtaking from opposite directions.

Highway authorities are not encouraged to use this type of marking in urban areas.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he is taking to improve rural bus services.

Exchequer support is already available for such services. When parliamentary time allows I intend to introduce legislation which would encourage further improvements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will increase the subsidies to housing associations to offset the effects on them of value added tax.

Where VAT relates to expenditure on new building schemes which is reckonable for subsidy, it will count for subsidy. VAT on conversion and improvement schemes will also count provided it does not take costs above the cost limits for grants.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the future plans of his Department will increase the navigable water in the Norfolk Broads.

I am planning to visit the Broads shortly to discuss with all the present interested authorities questions of the future administration of the water resources of this area. The Government are concerned to ensure that the best possible use of the Broads should be secured for recreational and amenity purposes, and I know that the authorities in the area fully share this view.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now review the working of the Travel Concessions Act 1964.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many staff will be employed within his Department to examine the budgets of local authorities in order to assess if their rate demands are consistent with Government policy.

Up to 16 staff have been engaged on rate monitoring.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will arrange for each domestic ratepayer to be provided with a breakdown of all factors included in the notional rent and on which the rates of the domestic property is based.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what reply he has given to the letter from the Town Clerk of Walsall dated 16th March, requesting him to receive a deputation from the finance committee on the question of the relief of domestic rates.

A letter is being sent to the county borough today indicating that there would be no useful purpose in holding such a meeting.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many letters he has received from local authorities since the Budget asking for extra financial assistance with rates; and how much additional assistance he has given;(2) how many requests he has received since the Budget to meet deputations to discuss rates; how many he has accepted; and how many he has rejected.

My right hon. and learned Friend has had two such meetings with local authorities. He has had a few letters from other local authorities requesting further financial assistance or a meeting with a deputation, or both. The Government consider that the domestic relief announced on 6th March, together with the unprecedentedly generous rate support grant settlement and the improved measures for rate rebates, strikes a fair balance between assistance to ratepayers and taxpayers. In these circumstances further meetings with deputations could serve little purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many foreign vehicles entering this country have been weighed since the coming into operation of the Road Traffic (Foreign Vehicles) Act 1972; and of these how many have been found to be overweight.

About 3,500 and 930 respectively up to 28th February 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the progress of tree planting in Plant-a-Tree Year 1973.

Yes. We have made a good start both in town and country. But this high rate of planting must now be sustained for 30 years or so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many accidents occurred on the Ml during 1972.

There were 808 accidents involving personal injury.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the latest statistics regarding traffic accidents on motorways compared with standard trunk roads.

Figures for standard trunk roads are not available, but it is estimated that in 1972 the injury accident rates per thousand million vehicle miles for motorways and rural "A" roads were 310 and 970 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the date when he expects to announce the three routes for the rail, road and advanced rapid transit services between London and Maplin airport.

I expect to receive shortly the consultant's report on options open to us for putting the new London/ Maplin communications links into a single corridor across South Essex. A consultative document will be published as soon as possible so that local authorities and the general public may give their views before any decision is made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make provision for a subscription to be paid from Government moneys towards the cost of soundproofing houses situated close to airfields, and in particular to the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough.

The responsibility for sound insulation near civil airfields rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and near defence airfields with my right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for Defence. They both institute schemes where they consider it appropriate, and these include provision for grants to be paid by aerodrome operators.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the criticisms expressed about the Maplin airport project, it is still the Government's intention to improve the environment of those suffering from existing airports in the London area.

Yes. The Government remain convinced of the need for Maplin and are pressing on with the necessary planning so as to meet the inevitable increase in air traffic and also to bring relief at the earliest possible time to the noise and environmental problems created by the existing airports in the region.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is aware of the continuing danger, especially to children, of street trading from mobile vans, particularly ice-cream vans; and if he will now introduce legislation requiring such traders to sell their wares only at such selected safe sites as may be prescribed by the local authority.

I am not convinced that legislation is the best way to tackle this problem.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total amount paid out in improvement grants to domestic householders by local authorities in 1972 and to the latest convenient date.

£64·;4 million was paid to all private owners in England and Wales in 1972 and £6…8 million in January 1973. These figures include payments to owner-occupiers and landlords.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has for curbing the use of public money for the improvement of second and holiday homes.

Local authorities already have full discretion to refuse a grant for this purpose. This is, however, a matter I am considering further in the course of my review of policy affecting older housing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage, nationally, of council house tenants voluntarily vacates their homes, annually.

From sample survey information, it appears that about 5 per cent. of council tenants have moved annually in recent years. About three-quarters are estimated to have moved into other council dwellings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will consider the case about a planning application which has been brought to his notice by the hon. Member for Shrewsbury; and what action he proposes to take.

I understand that my hon. Friend may be referring to an appeal against the decision of the Salop County Council refusing permission for a site on the outskirts of Shrewsbury to be used for caravan sales and as a stopping place for touring caravans. My decision to dismiss the appeal was issued on 19th March.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what additional help he will give to the London borough of Brent to help solve the problem of homelessness, housing shortage and multi-occupation, in the light of the letter sent to him by the hon. Member for Willesden, West, about the death of a child and the general practitioner's opinion that this was due to the housing problem.

I am now looking into the circumstances of the tragic case mentioned in the letter, and will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible. Substantial additional financial help is now available to Brent as a result of the Housing Finance Act 1972. I am also ready to help wherever possible on specific problems put to me by the boroughs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what he estimates has been the capital gain on a house bought by owner-occupiers in June 1970 costing, respectively, £5,000, £10,000 and £20,000.

The information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he satisfied himself about the safety standard of motor cycle safety helmets before making regulations for their compulsory wear; and if he will make a statement.

British Standard helmets give adequate protection.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now establish a comprehensive public inquiry into the proposed road building programme in North Portsmouth with particular reference to the suggested lorry park at Tipner. the related link road from the North /South motorway, and the creation of a free way in Twyford Avenue.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for issuing guidance to local authorities about the role of education welfare officers, medical social workers, and child guidance services in the new local government structure and for advising local authorities into which department such services should be absorbed.

No standard management structure will suit all areas: subject to the statutory framework it is a matter for local decisions. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services will announce his proposals when he decides on the future of medical social work; a consultation paper about future arrangements for child guidance will be issued shortly; and the Government are considering, in consultation with interested parties, whether there is a need for guidance about the employment of education welfare officers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he intends to take following the inquiry conducted by the Association of Public Health Inspectors which showed that in the large cities landlords were forcing tenants out to improve and sell their properties.

My right hon. and learned Friend is considering the results of this inquiry. Meanwhile he has sent a circular to local authorities asking them to make full use of their powers of prosecution in cases where they have reason to believe that tenants are being harassed or illegally evicted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give a general direction to the British Railways Board to make the signing of an undertaking not deliberately to disrupt the rail service a condition of all employment by the board.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received regarding the proposals that the Ordnance Survey will cease publishing a complete series of 2½-inch maps.

My right hon. and learned Friend has received representations, mainly from the Ramblers Associa- tion, about the decision to review the need for further publication of this series of maps. All these representations will be carefully considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, as part of his measures to make more land available for housing and allow citizens a better chance to live where they desire, he will urge local planning committees to revise rigid limitations on the extent of development of many villages and small towns.

My right hon. and learned Friend is not yet in a position to announce the Government's further proposals for making more building land available. He will however consider whether further advice to local authorities is needed on the issue raised by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue a statement to local planning authorities asking them to make public details of land which would receive outline planning approval for housing within their areas and land which has already received such approval.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a similar Question to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Handsworth (Mr. Sydney Chapman) earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to ensure that meetings of rent scrutiny boards are held in public.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will reconsider his decision that the administration of the superannuation funds of the London boroughs should be transferred to the Greater London Council, in view of the representations made to him by local authorities.

No. I am satisfied that the transfer will be in the best interests of the members of these funds.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce his decision concerning an extension of the completion date for operations under the Special Environmental Assistance Scheme.

My right hon. and learned Friend has not yet completed his review of the scheme. He hopes to make an announcement in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will undertake archaeological investigations of the site of the proposed new parliamentary building in Bridge Street before any decision is made on whether its construction is to be started; and if he will make a statement.

As I assured the House on 9th March, provision has been made for archaeological investigation of the site to take place before any construction begins, should the House decide to proceed with this project.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the Road Haulage Association asking for photographs of the holders to be incorporated in heavy goods vehicle driving licences; and what reply he made.

Following are the figures of accidents on the stretches of A33 and A34 in Winchester Municipal Borough (MB) and Winchester Rural District (RD):

I am giving careful consideration to such a proposal, which I have received from the Road Haulage Association.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his policy towards the most recent report of the Historic Buildings Council, and in particular on its observations on churches and other religious buildings in use.

My right hon. and and learned Friend is of course considering the report carefully. The report welcomed the discussions now taking place with representatives of the Church of England about churches in use. We are now awaiting the results of studies of the estimated cost of repairs in sample areas and the resources available locally to meet this. When this information is available the Government will consider with an open mind the scale of the problem and its implications for public expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what research has been carried out by his Department into the visual consequences of fitting heat rejecting glass in the windscreens of vehicles licensed in this country; and if he is satisfied that the reduction of light transmission which results does not increase safety hazards.

My Department has been closely involved in the drawing up of an international standard which will contain a minimum light transmission requirement for all glass in vehicles.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will initiate discussions with the various interested bodies to promote a full cost benefit analysis of the proposed scheme for improving the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

What is needed is more concrete evidence that when improved the waterway would indeed attract the traffic necessary to ensure an economic return and realisation of the social and environmental benefits envisaged. The British Waterways Board is now seeking this evidence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will permit one or more pop concerts to be held this year in Hyde Park.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has now had a further opportunity of considering the Kielder reservoir problem in relation to the representations covering all sections of the northern area for action, in view of the urgent need for a satisfactory water supply; and if he will make a statement.

I am considering the matter urgently, and will make a further statement as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation giving to council house occupiers the right to purchase the homes in which they live.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a similar Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Hornchurch (Mr. Loveridge) on 21st March—[Vol. 853, c. 83–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will hasten the decision to build the Black-water Valley Road so as to relieve traffic congestion in Farnborough and its vicinity.

A decision on the complete route must await the development of proposals by the local authorities for the Reading /Wokingham/Aldershot/ Basingstoke planning area. An improvement of the M3 to A30 route is already included in the principal road preparation list.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will use his powers to institute a public inquiry into or stop the proposed large-scale removal of sand and gravel from agricultural land between Polstead and Layham, Suffolk, which also involves the West Suffolk County Council issuing a compulsory purchase order to provide access for large, high volume lorry traffic between pits and country lanes.

The West Suffolk County Council as the responsible authority gave planning permission for a gravel pit some years ago. Action to revoke or modify that permission would be a matter for the local planning authority to consider and my right hon. and learned Friend sees no reason to intervene. A proposal for compulsory purchase of land to provide a different access to the site would need to be confirmed by my right hon. and learned Friend who would consider it on its merits having regard to the public interest.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make special arrangements to secure early approval of and assistance for schemes which provide replacement of public buildings and amenities in areas affected by mining subsidence; and if he will give particular consideration to the proposal by Rawmarsh UDC to provide new swimming baths.

Local authorities do not require approval from me to undertake such schemes. If they wish to borrow for the purpose they are free to use the annual capital allocation made for locally determined expenditure. As the allocation for the West Riding county area will be over £10 million next year I see no need for special arrangements for the new Rawmarsh swimming baths.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a further statement in amplification of his statement in connection with the Layfield Report on the Greater London Development Plan that the Government believe that the problems of housing stress and homelessness cannot be resolved within the context of the private rented sector alone.

At present I have nothing to add to paragraph 26 of the statement published on 19th February.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to refuse a Road Fund licence for any vehicle advertised as being capable of more than 100 mph.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations have been made to him by local authorities concerning the effects of Sections 66(4), 21(1) and 18(1) of the Housing Finance Act 1972 on modernisation of pre-war council houses and the ability of local authorities to give assistance to tenants while work proceeds; what replies he has sent; and whether he has any proposals for amending legislation.

The Department has advised the handful of local authorities which have raised this matter that if they consider that the personal or domestic circumstances of any tenants are exceptional they can grant them a more generous rebate from their rent than the Act provides for. I do not consider it necessary to amend the Housing Finance Act on this account.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will instruct local authorities using imported trees and shrubs for environmental improvement schemes that all such imports shall be certified free of disease and that any not so certified will prejudice any grant payable upon the scheme in which they may be used.

This is unnecessary because measures for ensuring the plant health of imported trees and shrubs are already operated by my right hon. Friends the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary of State for Scotland and by the Forestry Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will mow introduce as an experiment the suggestion put by a police constable to one of his predecessors responsible for transport matters in 1960 that a switch be placed in each motorway emergency telephone box that would activate an accident-ahead warning light when used by motorists reporting accidents, in view of the fact that this idea is now being tried in the United States.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many acres of derelict land remain in Cumberland; how many acres were reclaimed in 1970, 1971, and 1972; and if he will make a statement.

On 31st December 1971 there were 2,122 acres of which 1,230 acres justify restoration. Acres reclaimed were 146 in 1970, 43 in 1971 and 210 in 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total area of derelict land in the area which will form the new Cumbria authority.

About an estimated 2,800 acres, of which 1,900 will justify restoration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many acres of derelict land were recorded in England and Wales on 1st January 1973; for how many of these reclamation or redevelopment schemes had been formulated; and how much of the land in question was not eligible for the increased Government grants available under Operation Eyesore.

There were 64,253 acres of derelict land in England shown by the last survey on 31st December 1971 as justifying treatment. None of these should come within the Operation Eyesore scheme which is concerned with a wider range of improvements to unsightly land. Between 1st April 1971 and 28th February 1973 derelict land reclamation schemes covering some 9,000 acres were given final grant approval by the Department, allowing work to start, and much of the remainder will be included in the local authorities' forward programmes. Figures for Wales are matters for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of industrial derelict land in England and Wales is owned by (a) private industry (b) the nationalised industries and corporations, (c) local authorities and (d) individuals.

The derelict land surveys do not record the ownership of the land. Of the 64,253 acres in England shown by the last survey as justifying treatment, land covered by spoilheaps represented 32 per cent., excavations and pits 20 per cent. and other forms of dereliction 48 per cent. Figures for Wales are matters for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the 10 counties with the highest acreages of classified derelict land; and if he is satisfied with the progress being made in reclamation and redevelopment.

The figures from the 1971 derelict land survey in England are given in the following table. Encouraging progress is being made in reclaiming the land and bringing it into use. In 1971 in England 4,792 acres of derelict land were cleared, almost double the acreage cleared in 1969. During the first six months of the current financial year more schemes were approved for grant than in the whole of 1969–70.

asked the Secretary of of State for the Environment how many local authorities he or his officials have visited to examine progress being made on the reclamation and redevelopment of derelict land; and if he will make a statement.

Ministers have visited each of the priority areas with the most significant derelict land problems.The Department's regional offices are in close and continuing touch with local authorities in each region about their current schemes and future programmes and to advise them about the generous grant aid which is available for the acquisition and reclamation of derelict land.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the arrangements within his Department for supervising the reclamation and redevelopment of derelict land; and how many staff are engaged on this specific task.

Each of the Department's six regional offices has staff responsible for providing advice and help to local authorities in furthering their derelict land reclamation programmes and for dealing with applications for grant. At headquarters a small team of officers is engaged full-time on the general oversight of reclamation matters and dealing with grant applications for the South-East and East Anglia.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many acres of derelict land lie within the boundaries of the 10 largest cities.

The following information is taken from the 1971 survey of derelict land carried out by local planning authorities in England.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many acres of derelict land in England and Wales were reclaimed and redeveloped during the period from 1960 to 1972; and how many acres of agricultural land were released for development during the same period.

Available derelict land figures relate to the period 1964 to 1971 inclusive when 20,471 acres were reclaimed or landscaped in England. This gives an average of 2,559 acres a year, which is steadily rising; the total reclaimed in 1972 was 4,792 acres. The average annual loss of agricultural land to urban uses in England has been estimated at 36,600 acres over the same period. Figures for Wales are matters for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the progress of his plans to improve the A66 trunk road from the M6 at Penrith to West Cumberland.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 30th January 1973 in answer to a similar Question.—[Vol. 849, c. 359.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from local authorities for improvements to the A595 road between Whitehaven and Millom; and what replies he has sent.

Millom Urban District Council, which has sought improvement of the A595 trunk road, has been told that it is not sufficiently busy to justify comprehensive improvement. Minor schemes are however under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has received for traffic management schemes in the Lake District National Park; and what replies he has sent.

It is for the local highway authorities in the first instance to consider proposals for traffic management in the Lake District. The Department's regional director has recently invited them, the planning board and the Countryside Commission to join in a study of the need for additional controls on traffic movement and parking in the park and on its approach roads.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many road traffic accidents in the United Kingdom involving vehicles and drivers from Hungary and other European countries, for which information is available, there were in the last two years; and what protection and representation is provided for British citizens who suffer motor vehicle damage and injury to the person as a result of road traffic accidents involving European drivers who do not speak or understand the English language.

I regret that the information requested in the first part of the Question is not available. Claims against foreign nationals for personal injury damages arising out of road accidents in the United Kingdom are handled by the Motor Insurers' Bureau. Claims for property damage, liability for which is not compulsorily insurable, can be pursued in the English courts, and reciprocal arrangements for the enforcement of judgments exist in the case of several major Western European countries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take steps to make all mineral operators responsible for the restoration of the areas they work.

Planning authorities already have powers to impose conditions requiring appropriate restoration when granting planning permission for mineral workings. The Committee on Minerals Planning Control, under the chairmanship of Sir Roger Stevens, is examining the operation of these powers and will in due course report to my right hon. and learned Friend and to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales. We shall then consider whether any further action is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will institute a comprehensive inquiry into land use and arrange for a quinquennial land survey.

No. My Department is however discussing with local planning authorities the possibility of the early establishment of a system to monitor the annual change in land use. We are also analysing aerial surveys of urban development. We hope by means such as this to bring about a useful improvement in our knowledge in this field.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimates have been made of the demand for land for urban expansion over the next decade; and if he will make a statement.

No specific estimates have been made for the next decade. Broad estimates have been attempted, however, covering the remainder of the century. These indicate that urban expansion may require approximately 1·2 million acres by 2001. This would imply a rise in the proportion of the total area of England and Wales in urban use from about 11·6 per cent. in 1971 to about 14·8 per cent. in 2001.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will permit this year the Serpentine Arts Gallery to hold an outdoor exhibition of sculpture and an inflatable maze and other objects, in view of the popularity of such exhibitions last year.

I am prepared to consider the use of the enclosed east lawn for exhibitions which do not obtrude visibly or audibly upon those who wish to enjoy the other amenities of Kensington Gardens.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what were average earnings in 1937, 1947, 1957, 1967 and 1972, respectively.

I have been asked to reply.The following information for full-time manual workers is derived from the October inquiries into earnings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied with methods of enforcement of present regulations on suppressors fitted to car engines.

I have been asked to reply.Yes. The Wireless Telegraphy (Control of Interference from Ignition Apparatus) Regulations 1952 require all new motor vehicles sold for use in the United Kingdom since 1st July 1953 to be fitted with suppressors to prevent ignition interference. A representative sample of all cars manufactured or imported for use in this country is examined by my Ministry to ensure so far as is possible that the regulations are complied with. These arrangements work well, and complaints of ignition interference have been negligible in number for some years.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many rented houses in the private sector in Scotland have been unoccupied for a period of three months or longer.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce a second school leaving date in Scottish schools.

All education authorities already have two school leaving dates.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the local authorities in Scotland which are operating housing advice centres.

So far as I am aware Glasgow Corporation is the only local authority in Scotland operating a housing advice centre at present. I understand that Paisley Town Council proposes to set up a centre and that Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh Corporation are considering doing so.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will ensure that before grants are given to public authorities for new buildings, the authorities ensure that any old buildings which they intend to replace, where serviceable, are repaired, retained and put to use.

Such a grant will not be given unless I am satisfied that the proposed new building is required, and in reaching a decision on this I will continue to have regard to the condition of any old building which it is intended to replace.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will now announce the numbers of health boards to be set up under the Health Service (Scotland) Act 1972;(2) if he will now announce the areas to be covered by health boards to be constituted under the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1972;(3) if he will now announce the membership of the area health boards to be appointed under the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1972.

I have already announced the names of the chairmen of the proposed health boards. The next step will be the formal definition of the 15 health board areas. The necessary order will be made soon; as I made clear to the hon. Member for Kirkcaldy Burghs (Mr. Gourlay) on 20th March, it will include provision for a Fife health board. I expect to be able to make the first announcements about health board membership in April.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is the number of physiotherapists employed by the separate hospital boards within the Western Regional Hospital Board;(2) what is the number of vacancies for physiotherapists in the separate hospital boards within the Western Regional Hospital Board;(3) what is the number of physiotherapists employed by each of the Scottish regional hospital boards;(4) how many physiotherapists employed by individual regional hospital boards are on a full-time basis;

The number of physiotherapists employed by the

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many families have been evicted from local authority houses in Scotland as a result of inability to meet the cost of rents in the years 1972, 1971, and 1970.

This information is not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will give the numbers and locations of primary schools in Scotland as defined by one-teacher, two-teacher and three-teacher schools.

At January 1972, the latest date for which figures are available, the numbers of primary schools and departments in these categories were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the percentage change in transport costs over last year borne by local authorities for the conveyance of children to primary schools.

Local authority returns of reckonable expenditure show that the estimate for 1972–73 exceeds the provisional outturn for 1971–72 by 10·4 per cent. for the conveyance of all pupils to school. Separate figures are not available for primary pupils.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many one-teacher primary schools there are in Scotland.

At January 1972, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 335 one-teacher primary schools and departments.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in his consideration of proposals to abolish all one-and two-teacher primary schools in Scotland, he will estimate the number of headmasterships which would be lost to the teaching profession.

No education authority has put to me proposals for closing all the one- and two-teacher primary schools in its area.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many visiting teachers of special subjects now work in different primary schools in Scotland; and how this figure compares with 10 years ago.

The figures for education authority primary schools in January of the years named are given below. Information for earlier years is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if there is a general rule following the closure of a rural school when assurances are given that transport will be free of the time scale which must elapse before a fee for school transport is levied on the parents.

Education authorities have a duty to provide free transport for school pupils in order to ensure that no child under eight years of age has to walk more than two miles and no other child has to walk more than 3 miles to or from school. Although authorities may make more generous transport arrangements following the closure of a rural school they are not required to do more than meet this statutory obligation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent he takes account of rural depopulation as a relevant factor in deciding whether to give consent to closures of rural schools.

A proposal for closure is often consequential to rural depopulation but I give careful consideration among other factors to the likely effect of the closure of the school on the future wellbeing of the local community.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now make a statement about the reform of the lay summary courts on the reorganisation of local government in Scotland.

Yes. I am publishing tomorrow a White Paper which explains the Government's detailed proposals for developing the justice of the peace system to provide effective lay summary courts as from 16th May 1975 when the new local authorities are due to assume power.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what will be the cost to the taxpayer and ratepayer of the sound insulation and mechanised ventilation necessary at Dunfermline College of Physical Education, Cramond Primary School (phases 1 and 2) and Scottish Command HQ (Cragie Hall) and for private householders adversely affected by the proposed BAA runway at Edinburgh Airport.

I have been asked to reply.The question of future arrangements for noise insulation relating to Edinburgh airport will require careful consideration by all concerned. It is not possible in advance of that to give a realistic estimate of the costs likely to fall to the airport authority or, if any, to the taxpayer and ratepayer.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking to secure the release of a British national, Peter Niesewand, detained unlawfully by the illegal régime in Southern Rhodesia.

As my right hon. Friend explained to the House on 28th February, he has made representations to the Rhodesian authorities about Mr. Niesewand's detention.—[Vol. 851, c. 1482.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will take action to punish those responsible for usurping lawful authority by purporting to exercise the right of detaining, imprisoning and executing Her Majesty's subjects in Rhodesia.

Neither this Government nor the previous Government have been in a position to take action within Rhodesia against those exercising authority illegally there.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in view of the anxiety amongst the public in Hong Kong regarding corruption in the police force, fire services and Government Departments, if he will institute an inquiry with a view to taking appropriate action.

No. The Government of Hong Kong are well aware of the problem and are tackling it vigorously through their Anti-corruption Office.