asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has for the expansion of the Welsh industrial estates; and how many additional jobs are likely to result.

Nine new advance factories for Wales were announced in January, which could provide about 1,000 jobs when occupied. Major expansions of our holdings at Waterton in South Wales and Wrexham are also in hand. These will ultimately provide many new jobs, but I cannot yet forecast how many and when they will arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the maximum overpressure experienced at St. David's Cathedral during the period of the Concorde test programme arising from storm or natural causes; and what has been the maximum overpressure arising from the supersonic flights.

The maximum overpressure measured at St. David's Cathedral from Concorde's test flights has been 2·7 lbs./sq. ft. Comparable measurements of storms at St. David's are not available. Measurements on the cathedral structure indicate that the effects of sonic boom are well within the range of environmental influences.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what requests he has received, and what replies he has given, to sanction expenditure to produce a quieter engine than the Rolls-Royce Olympus 593 for installation in the Concorde aircraft.

Studies are in hand to explore possible ways of reducing Concorde's noise, but no proposal has been received to introduce a new engine to replace the Olympus 593.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the figure of 115 EPNdB given as the landing noise of Concorde is a maximum or an average; and what percentage difference in noise this means over the internationally agreed figure of 108 EPNdB.

The manufacturer's estimate of the noise of Concorde on approach as 115 EPNdB is based on the same criteria as comparable measurements for subsonic aircraft. There are not international standards for supersonic aircraft noise levels.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many advance or other factories in Wales owned by his Department have been allocated during the last 12 months; how many jobs are likely to result; and how many such factories are now under construction, comparing the year ending 31st March 1973 with the year ending 31st March 1972.

Twenty-five, compared with six in the year before. 3,000 jobs should arise, compared with 1,300 in the previous year. At 31st March 1972, 10 factories were being built and six were then being planned. By 31st March 1973, seven were under construction, and 15 were being planned.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what views the Government are putting forward within the context of the EEC on the proposals to be made by the EEC in the GATT negotiations this autumn for the further liberalisation of international trade.

We have contributed fully within the Community to the consideration which resulted in the Commission's April memorandum. This we are supporting as the EEC's global approach to the GATT negotiations, as requested by the summit conference, in the interests of a progressive liberalisation of international trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a further statement concerning the Government's policy on monopolies and mergers.

I hope to announce very shortly a number of further monopoly references to the Monopolies Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will require the Central Electricity Generating Board to publish in its annual reports the average delivered price paid for heavy fuel oil, for other types of oil used for burning, and for natural gas during each of the last seven years, and state the current average delivered prices for these fuels.

No; the price paid by the CEGB for its fuels is essentially a commercial matter between the board and its suppliers, but some information on average prices paid by the electricity industry as a whole is available in Tables 92 and 107 of the Department's Digest of Energy Statistics, 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made for increased coal consumption at power stations during 1974 to 1979; what additional coal-fired power stations he has authorised for completion before 1979; what will be their consumption of bituminous coal; and what estimate he has made of power generation, respectively, from coal, from oil, from nuclear power and from hydroelectric sources per centum, in each case, by 1979.

The absolute consumption or percentage share of coal or of other fuels in power generation depends on unpredictable factors such as the relative prices of coal and oil and the future demand for electricity. However, for the year 1973–74 I expect that some 75 million tons of coal will be burned in power stations, of which some 8 million tons will be attributable to the special arrangements for extra coal burn recently agreed between the NCB and the generating boards.With regard to additional authorisations for coal-fired stations, there is nothing to add to the details listed in the reply given by my hon. Friend on 24th April 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will investigate or refer to the Monopolies Commission the closure and takeover of breweries in the Manchester and Salford area, including the proposed closure of the Cornbrook and Chester breweries.

Modernisation of the industry in the North West may well involve some closures of older breweries. New jobs in the brewing industry will be created in the north-west development area and elsewhere in the intermediate area, and the overall effect of closures on employment will be slight.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what additional employment for men is in prospect in Sunderland.

I regret that figures of jobs in prospect are not available. The Government, however, expect employment opportunities to increase in Sunderland as their policies for industrial expansion mature. There has been a significant rise in notified job vacancies over the past year.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give a general direction to the nationalised industries that in all cases where the addition of VAT to their charges to customers results in a sum ending with an odd ½p they should round the sum charged down and not up to the nearest whole penny.

No. My Department is advising traders in both the public and private sectors to look at the range of goods and services they supply as a whole and to ensure that there is a balance of rounding-up and rounding-down.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many industrial development certificates have been approved in the north west region since 31st March 1972; what was the area involved; how many jobs were

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will consider adding soap powder and detergents to the list of prepacked goods which have to be packed in standardized prescribed quantities.

I am in touch with the industry and with consumer interests about the packaging of detergents, and will be making a statement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will now give his revised estimate of oil reserves located within the United Kingdom sector of the Continental Shelf.

The review of forecasts of offshore oil and gas production and reserves is now complete. I have prepared a report for Parliament setting out the results, and copies are now being placed in the Vote Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what rules he lays down regarding potential conflicts of interest between the responsibilities of the members of his expected to result; and how these figures compare with those for comparable periods in 1969–70, 1970–71, and 1971–72.

The number of IDCs approved in the last twelve months compared with the previous year has considerably increased, and the additional employment estimated by the applicants to arise when the projects are complete and fully manned has doubled.Following are the figures:Industrial Development Advisory Board to their employers and as members of that board to himself.

The board's conditions of service require that the chairman and members should provide up-to-date information about their current financial interests, including directorships, that if they have an interest in a case under consideration by the board they should declare the interest, and that, having made such a declaration, they should take no part in any deliberation of the board with respect to that case.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he has taken in the past year to resolve some of the outstanding problems arising from the setting up of the Engineers' Registration Board; what discussions are currently taking place with the Council of Engineering Institutions and the professional institutions; and if he will make a statement.

The setting up of the Engineers' Registration Board is of direct concern to the profession. My concern is that, while raising standards generally, this does not discriminate against a significant minority and affect their opportunities at home and in Europe. Discussions between my officials and those of other interested Departments and the profession have been continuing during recent months. A range of possibilities has been considered, but I cannot yet forecast the solution. A solution must be found before EEC directives are determined.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what extent recent proposals from the Privy Council will affect the policy of the Council of Engineering Institutions in relation to professional institutions and the Engineers' Registration Board; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member's Question No. 42 today. The Clerk of the Privy Council is one of the parties to the current discussions I described, and there is no separate Privy Council activity.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, having regard to the fact that the effects of the removal of the limitation on total movements at Heathrow and the substitution of a ban on night jet take-offs have been to increase night jet landings by 50 per cent., he will revise his 1973 regulations so as to secure a return of night jet landings to 1971 levels.

The aim is to reduce total night jet movements this summer by about 10 per cent, compared with 1972, and that calls for a reduction in landings. It would be premature to revise the published restrictions at this time, but I am keeping the position under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the production capacity of smokeless fuel is now estimated to be sufficient to warrant a further extension of smokeless zones.

The National Coal Board and other manufacturers are at present examining the production capacity for solid smokeless fuels, which appears to be adequate for future needs despite recent and planned reductions. The policy of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment is to give every encouragement to local authorities to submit smoke control orders. A record number was submitted in 1972, and so far progress in 1973 has been excellent.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement regarding discussions he has had on the continuance of the regional employment premium or its replacement by a congestion tax, both in Great Britain and with the EEC.

There have been no such discussions, but the CBI and the TUC have been invited to discussions on the phasing out of the regional employment premium.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much public money has been paid by Her Majesty's Government to Rolls-Royce and Bristol Siddeley in each year from 1960 for (a) research and development for Concorde, (b) other grants or loans in connection with Concorde's production, (c) research and development of other civil projects, (d) launching aid for civil aero engines, gross and net of repayment, and (e) cancellation charges for civil projects discontinued.

Following are the figures:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the estimated cost, for each year from 1960, of work done in Government research establishments for which he is responsible on behalf of Rolls-Royce and Bristol Siddeley net of any repayment made.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he proposes to take to bring about a co-ordination of European policies on oil imports.

This topic will be considered by the Council of Ministers later this month when they meet to consider energy matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his Department will consult the Mid-Wales Industrial Development Association concerning the need for building further advance factories for light industry in Cardiganshire.

My Department keeps in close contact with the Mid-Wales Industrial Development Association and the Development Commission about advance factory building in the Mid-Wales counties. The needs of Cardiganshire will continue to be borne in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will make a statement on the Government's view of the size of the funds necessary to ensure that the EEC regional fund can play an effective role in regional policy;(2) if the Government has expressed a view to the Commission on the total size of the proposed EEC regional fund; and if he will make a statement.

No, but we would agree with the Commission that substantial resources must be allocated to the fund.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to give warning against misrepresentation by persons selling domestic gas appliances, in connection with conversions to natural gas.

I am informed that consumers are told by the industry before conversion that they are not required to purchase new appliances. If my right hon. Friend will let me know of any case where misrepresentation by salesmen is alleged, I shall ask the Chairman of the British Gas Corporation to investigate.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many service sector projects have received financial assistance under the Industry Act; how many applications are under consideration; and what is the total amount of assistance involved, giving figures for each of the economic planning regions of Great Britain.

Apart from the assistance announced to the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company, one offer of selective assistance has been made to a service industry project which is located in the Northern Region. As at 16th April, 12 applications were under consideration, seven in the North-West Region, four in Scotland and one in the East Midlands. I am unable to give further details without breaking commercial confidence.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the number of service occupancies listed in the houses of the National Coal Board.

This is a matter for the National Coal Board, and I am asking the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the total amount of grants paid on new ship construction, conversion and parts of new ships to the shipyards of the North-East coast since 1970.

Grants for these purposes paid to shipyards in the Northern Region totalled £5,633,607 between the end of 1970 and the end of April 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, in view of the criticisms expressed in the Report of the Committee on Safety and Health at Work, of the standard of inspection and interpretation of the statutory provisions of health and safety requirements at places of work, what action his Department is taking.

The Report of the Committee on Safety and Health at Work made no specific criticisms either of the standard of inspection or the interpretation of legislation in the industries for which my Department has responsibilities, notably mines and quarries and nuclear installations. I believe that standards in these industries are not bettered in any major country.While it would take too long to list the ways in which my Department is acting to reduce accidents in general, I agree with the Committee's view that the creation of conditions for more effective participation and self-regulation by employers and workpeople generally will be a key factor in securing improvement. My Department is continuing to foster developments in this direction, in which the coal mining industry in particular has a long and excellent record.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the average percentage of ore content in iron ore imported into this country; and what is the highest and lowest percentage, respectively.

During 1972, the average iron content of iron ore and concentrates imported into this country was 619 per cent.; the highest percentage was 68·1 and the lowest 43·9 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will refer the question of cinema ownership to the Monopolies Commission.

The Monopolies Commission has investigated and reported on the supply of films for exhibition in cinemas. Its report was presented to Parliament on 28th October 1966—House of Commons Paper 206. I see no need for a further reference to the commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to formulate a policy within the EEC area for the location of major new airports.

None, as there does not appear to be any prima facie reason for such an initiative.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what proportion of scheduled international flights from Heathrow airport is under 500 miles;(2) what proportion of scheduled international flights from Heathrow airport is under 300 miles.

This information, as it relates to current schedules, is not immediately available. I shall write to my hon. Friend within a few days.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the airlines, the CAA and BALPA about pilot fatigue and hours of duty; and if he will make a statement.

As my hon. Friend will be aware, these are matters for the Civil Aviation Authority, which has set up a committee under the chairmanship of Group Captain Douglas Bader to consider them. The committee has received evidence from the airlines, BALPA and other interested parties, and is expected to present its report to the Authority within the next few weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much British tourists spent abroad in each of the past five years.

The information is published under the heading "Travel Debits" on page XX of the March 1973 issue of Economic Trends.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of the United Kingdom's exports went to the EEC in 1964, 1970 and 1972.

To the six original members, 21, 22 and 23 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the value of British exports to Australia in

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what were the major categories of imports from Romania in 1972 and what were their value; and what were the major categories of exports to Romania and what were their value.

Details of our trade with Romania for 1972 are given in Tables II and V of the December 1972 issue of the Overseas Trade Statistics.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people are currently employed on the Aycliffe industrial estate; how many of them are women; and what are the corresponding figures for the previous five years.

£263 million fob in 1960. Information for 1965 and 1970 is given in Table 286 of the 1972 Annual Abstract of Statistics, and for 1972 in Table V of the December 1972 issue of the Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in how many cases companies which were successful in the tender experiment of 15 blocks in the fourth round of licensing received in addition discretionary allocations of neighbouring blocks; and whether he will state the particular cases and the extent of the discretionary allocation.

Four of the licensees or groups of licensees who were awarded licences under the tender arrangements were also awarded neighbouring blocks under the discretionary system. The details are:

The information is as follows:

asked the Minister of State for Defence how much public money has been paid by Her Majesty's Government to Rolls-Royce and Bristol Siddeley in each year from 1960 for (a) research and development of military projects, (b) contract payments in respect of defence purchases and (c) cancellation charges for defence projects discontinued.

It has not been possible in the time available to provide the information in the form requested because of successive changes in organisation since 1960 on both the industry and the Government side and because of the form in which the figures are now kept centrally. Total payments to Rolls-Royce by the Ministry of Defence for work on both civil and military projects and maintenance in 1971–72 and 1972–73 were £196 million and £252 million including £69 million and £110 million for work on the RB211. All these figures are gross and take no account of money received by the Ministry of Defence from Rolls-Royce.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is the estimated cost, for each year from 1960, of work done in Government research establishments for which he is responsible on behalf of Rolls-Royce and Bristol Siddeley net of any repayment made.

None. When establishments carry out work on behalf of industry, as distinct from work on Government account, appropriate charges are made.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how often the Ministry of Defence ranges on Rainham Marshes have been used in each of the last five years; and by how many military units.

The following table shows the usage of Rainham ranges in each of the last five years:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is his practice to estimate changes in the Gini coefficient arising from changes he proposes for the annual Budget.

No. As I have previously explained to the hon. Gentleman, there are serious problems in making meaningful estimates, and in any case short-term changes in this measurement would be of questionable significance.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the total revenue was excise duty on spirits and beer in 1970, 1971 and 1972.

The information is as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the amounts and categories where compensation, either direct or indirect, is still being paid to previous owners of any of the nationalised industries.

All claims for compensation have been settled under the terms of the relevant Acts.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the arrears in paying or crediting interest on deposits with the National Savings Bank, which arose during the recent industrial action, were or will be eliminated.

The arrears in this work have now been overtaken.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the United Kingdom-Malaysia double tax treaty will be published.

The new double taxation agreement between the United Kingdom and Malaysia was recently published as a White Paper, Cmnd. 5289. A draft Order in Council giving effect to the agreement will be laid before the House soon.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider increasing the figure of £30, which is the maximum for which a child is allowed to insure the life of its parent, under the Industrial Assurance and Friendly Societies Act.

Legislation would be necessary to amend the limit. The matter is being borne in mind for consideration should the need and opportunity arise for other amendments to the Industrial Assurance and Friendly Societies Acts.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many horses and ponies were exported from Britain for slaughter during 1972; and if he will make a statement.

We have no evidence of any such exports during 1972. All exports to Europe were declared to be for purposes specified in the export regulations. These purposes do not include slaughter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what limit has been set by Common Market regulation on permitted imports into the United Kingdom of Cyprus sherry free of the countervailing tariff between 1st February and 31st December 1973.

The draft regulation of the Council on this subject is still under discussion by the Community, but we expect it to provide for the import into the United Kingdom of Cyprus sherry free of countervailing duty up to a limit of 183,600 hectolitres—about 4,039,200 gallons—for the period between 1st February and 31st December 1973.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the amount of imports of Cyprus sherry during the last 11-months period for which figures are available.

Cyprus sherry is not separately classified in the United Kingdom tariff, and precise information on imports before 1st February 1973 is not available. From that date, a separate record has been kept as required by the Community. Estimated imports for the 11-month period from June 1972 to April 1973 inclusive, taking account of actual figures for February to April 1973, were of the order of 4,120,000 gallons—about 187,000 hectolitres.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures he is taking to inform the Common Market Commission at regular intervals of British imports of Cyprus sherry, as decreed in the appropriate regulation of the Commission.

A written report of Customs clearances of Cyprus sherry for home use is forwarded to the Common Market Commission by the 16th of each month, in respect of the preceding month.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is the estimated Common Market subsidy on Cyprus-type sherry produced in Common Market countries for the period 1st February to 31st December 1973; and what is the United Kingdom's estimated contribution to the subsidy;(2) what imports of Cyprus-type sherry entered the United Kingdom from Common Market countries in the last period of 11 months for which figures are available; and what is the estimated amount of such products for the period 1st February to 31st December 1973.

As far as is known, no sherry of the kind associated with Cyprus is produced in Common Market countries. There is a Community proposal that subsidies shall be paid on Community wines similar to Cyprus sherry. No agreement on the identity of these similar wine products has yet been reached. No estimate of the Community subsidy can therefore be made, nor can statistics of imports into the United Kingdom be produced.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will introduce regulations to ensure that feeding stuffs for farm animals are free from salmonella.

My right hon. Friend is considering, in conjunction with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, the introduction of statutory measures to reduce the risk of the contamination of animal feedingstuffs by salmonellae.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the price of butter now; and how this figure compares with June 1970.

The Department of Employment's General Index of Retail Prices shows average retail prices of New Zealand and Danish butter were 16·8p and 20·0p per lb respectively in June 1970, and 22·4p and 25·lp per lb on 20th March this year, the latest date for which figures are available. Prices of home-produced butter were not collected for the purpose of the index until 1973; on 20th March, the average was 24·0p per lb.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what has been the precentage increase in food prices since June 1970.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon Members for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) and for Rugby (Mr. William Price) on 10th May.—[Vol. 856, c. 149.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research his Department has undertaken in the conversion of organic waste into marketable protein, for example on the extraction of microbial protein from the waste husks of carob bean for compounding with animal feedstuffs or on other waste products.

There has been no research undertaken by my Department into the conversion of organic waste into marketable protein, but developments in this field are kept under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made as a result of the discussions which she has been holding about the financing of student unions; and if she will make a statement.

No agreement has emerged from the discussions, and my right hon. Friend has no statement to make at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were in full-time employment in each of the employment areas in the Leek parliamentary constituency on 1st January in each of the past 10 years.

Estimates of the numbers employed in employment exchange areas are made only for each midyear, and the most recent are for June 1971. The figures do not identify full-time and part-time workers. Following is the available information:Macclesfield employment area; and how this figure compares with 12 months ago.

In the Macclesfield employment exchange area, there were 593 on 9th April 1973 and 877 on 10th April 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the final number of days lost to industry in 1972 in respect of strikes, lockouts, industrial accidents and illness in the major categories, including influenza and rheumatism, giving the figures for males and females separately.

I regret that the final total of working days lost through industrial stoppages during 1972 is not yet available, but should be ready in a few weeks' time; I shall then write to the hon. Member. The provisional figure is 23,904,000. Figures for strikes and lockouts are not separately compiled.As regards statistics for sickness and industrial injury, I am asking my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps are being taken to implement the recommendations of the Robens Report in Safety and Health at Work that a new national authority should be set up to deal with accidents at work.

My right hon. Friend hopes very shortly to announce the Government's intentions for implementing the Robens recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the increase in the retail price index since June 1970.

The General Index of Retail Prices rose by 23·9 per cent. between 16th June 1970 and 20th March 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many registered disabled men, women and young people were unemployed in Wales at the latest available date.

On 9th April 1973, there were 6,192 unemployed registered disabled people in Wales. Of this number, 5,572 were men, 564 women, and 56 young people.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of sections of motorways which have only two-lane carriageways, together with the lengths of each section.

The following lengths of trunk motorways in England have two-lane carriageways:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what additional mileage of canals has become available for leisure activities in each of the past five years.

The waterways of the British Waterways Board have all been available for leisure pursuits of one kind or another, including pleasure cruising on the 1,400 miles of "commercial" and "cruising" waterways. Since 1968 the board has negotiated with local authorities and other interests for the restoration of about 240 miles of its remainder waterways for pleasure cruising—so far 32 miles have been opened for such use—and for the development of about 120 miles for other amenity use.Comprehensive information is not readily available on the leisure use of independently-owned canals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authority houses and how many private houses were built in the Biddulph urban district in 1971 and in 1972.

The numbers of dwelling completions reported were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment by what criteria he proposes to determine which areas are stress areas in need of special measures for the provision of local authority housing.

I cannot as yet add to paragraph 51 of the White Paper "Widening the Choice: the Next Steps in Housing ". This announced that the Government would be bringing forward proposals for special measures to deal comprehensively with the housing problems of those areas suffering from the greatest degree of stress.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money was paid out in discretionary improvement grants for private owners and housing associations by Manchester in 1970, 1971 and the first half of 1972.

The amounts paid out by Manchester county borough in discretionary improvement grants—including conversions—for private owners and housing associations receiving cash grants as private owners were £500 in 1970; £8,900 in 1971. and £15,600 in the first half of 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what communication he has received from the Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council concerning the maximum cost of improvement allowable under the provisions of the Housing Act 1969 for Exchequer contribution purposes; what has been his reply; and whether he will make a statement.

I cannot trace any recent communication.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what percentage of council tenants in Newcastle-under-Lyme not on supplementary social security benefit receive rent rebates;(2) what was the average rebate allowed for council tenants in Newcastie-under-Lyme not on supplementary social security benefit; and what was their average rent, before and after 2nd October 1972.

This information should be sought from the borough or the rural district council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to reduce the hazards on the A18 trunk road in the vicinity of Doncaster Royal Infirmary, following the recent accident involving the deaths of three hospital workers.

A number of measures have been agreed with Doncaster CBC, which is the highway authority for this length of the A18, including replacement of a zebra crossing by a pelican crossing; closure of the adjacent hospital access to vehicles; extension of the existing 30 mph speed limit; and steps to reduce the number of turning movements at the junction of the A18 and Wentworth Road.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now take steps to prevent the building of substandard houses by speculative builders.

All new houses have to comply with the building regulations. In addition, almost all new private houses built for sale are covered by the National House-Builders Registration Council scheme, which lays down minimum standards for their construction and provides guarantees for purchasers if these standards are not met.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what investment in new rolling stock will be required to enable the advanced passenger train to be introduced by British Rail; and whether existing rolling stock, unmodified, can be used with the highspeed train.

Investment in APT stock depends on future decisions about the programme. The high-speed diesels can draw existing Mk III coaches, with minor modifications.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the first high-speed train to go into service with British Rail; and if he will make a statement on the highspeed train programme to date.

The board hopes that a prototype train will enter service later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now give the date when the contracts for the Stowmarket bypass will be signed and the work started.

The tender was accepted on 10th May and work is due to begin on 29th May.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider seeking powers to make it compulsory for a disc to be displayed on the windscreens of all vehicles indicating that insurance premiums have been paid in respect of that vehicle.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the proposed bypass for Kirton in the county of Holland.

We hope to publish proposals for the bypass by the end of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will inquire into the reasons why a Cathcart resident, Mr. McCulloch, who applied for a provisional driving licence on 9th March, details of whose case have been sent to him, has not received his licence from Cardiff; to what extent there is a general delay in issuing such licences; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a similar Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Basingstoke (Mr. David Mitchell) on 8th May. Mr. McCulloch's licence was issued on 9th May.—[Vol. 856 c 67–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied that objectors to the proposed route for Ringway 3, in the London borough of Havering, have been provided with sufficient information and have had adequate time to prepare their case prior to the public local inquiry to be held on 5th June.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what have been the percentage increases in housing costs and rents since June 1970.

Following are representative figures:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what grants have been made to any manufacturers of internal combustion engines for research into production of quieter engines; to whom the results of the research are to be made available; and why such research was not commissioned from a public research organisation.

None. My Department is sponsoring a research and development project through its Transport and Road Research Laboratory for commercially viable quiet heavy vehicles. Results will be made available to industry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ensure that no decision on the re-routing of the A13 in or near Rainham is taken until the Nugent report on defence land has been published and fully considered.

No. The Nugent report may or may not prove a decisive factor. My Department will shortly be considering the best way of indicating the viable alternatives to the public.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the state of consideration, and the envisaged time-scale, of the proposal for a motorway from Southampton to the Midlands.

There is no proposal for a new motorway route. I am satisfied that the planned development of M3, A34 and M40 will be well adequate to cope with traffic movements between Southampton and the Midlands.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had, or intends to have, with EEC member countries other than France concerning the Channel Tunnel.

My right hon. Friend the Minister for Transport Industries has had discussions with a number of our European colleagues about the Channel Tunnel project. In addition, the European Conference of Ministers of Transport proposes to set up in the autumn a working group to examine the implications of the Channel Tunnel for European transport systems generally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the chairmanship of the Northern Economic Planning Council.

Sir William Reid, C.B.E., who has since 1965 given invaluable service on the Northern Economic Planning Council, first as a member and more recently as chairman, has now relinquished his appointment on completion of his term of office as chairman. I am pleased to announce that Mr. C. L. G. Baker who is already a member of the council has accepted my invitation to succeed Sir William as chairman with effect from today.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will take into account in deciding whether or not and how much to contribute in aid to Indonesia the practice of political detention without trial and torture in that country.

I cannot accept all the allegations of the hon. Member. In Indonesia, as in other countries, we take many factors into consideration in the allocation of aid.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action has been taken by the United Nations Human Rights Commission concerning religious persecution and apartheid, respectively.

The commission has produced a draft convention and a draft declaration on religious intolerance and a draft convention on apartheid. In addition it has this year submitted to the United Nations Economic and Social Council a programme for a decade of action against racism, including apartheid.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the review of the allowances paid to British staff in the public service of Fiji originally scheduled to be conducted in January is to be brought to a conclusion; what steps have been taken to keep the appropriate staff association fully informed of the basis and timing of the proposed review: and when the staff may expect to be advised of the result.

I expect next week to complete the first review of the allowances of certain groups of professional British staff in the public service of Fiji, in accordance with the answer I gave to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Darwen (Mr. Fletcher-Cooke) on 8th June last year.—[Vol. 838, c. 151-2.] The new rates of allowances come into effect from 1st January 1973 and will be made available to staff, with the Fiji Government's agreement, as soon as possible after that.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of the 31 persons detained in Rhodesia whom the illegal regime indicated the intention of releasing, as set out in Command Paper No. 4835, at paragraph IV, have been released.

The Rhodesian authorities informed us at the end of 1971 that all these detainees had been released.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to introduce non-supervisory senior posts in the probation service; and what the responsibilities of persons holding these posts will be.