asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to restrict the entry of motor cars into cities.

The restrictions needed will vary from place to place. Detailed plans are for local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he now expects to introduce legislation to amend the existing licensing system for buses and coaches.

As soon as parliamentary time is available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to discourage local authorities from classifying non-rigid plastic air-pressure supported covers and other similar structures as "buildings" for building regulation purposes.

The enforcement of the building regulations is a matter for local authorities and it is for them to say in the first instance whether the regulations apply and, if so, how.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average cost per caravan of gipsy sites since the coming into force of the Caravan Sites Act 1968.

In order to obtain full information it would be necessary to make inquiries of the 48 local authorities which have provided such sites. But as an example, at a site for 12 caravans recently opened at Pepperstock, Bedfordshire, the cost per pitch was £2,500, plus a further £1,250 for the land element.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give an assurance that there will be no post- ponement of the completion of the M65 Calder Valley route as a result of the proposed cuts in public expenditure.

The two schemes will not be directly affected by the cuts in 1974–75 expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has for extending leasehold reform provisions to the tenants of leasehold flats; and if he will make a statement.

None. It is not practicable for legal reasons for flats to be held on a freehold basis. Consequently the Leasehold Reform Act 1967 did not apply to leasehold flats.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek powers to permit local authorities to compel landlords to carry out essential repairs in tenanted residential property or, failing that, themselves carry out such repairs and recover the cost from the landlord.

No. Local authorities already have powers to require reasonable repairs to be carried out to both tenanted and owner-occupied residential properties under the Housing Acts 1957 and 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if it is his intention to permit the public and Press to be present at all meetings of the rent scrutiny boards established pursuant to the Housing Finance Act.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to prevent residential property in urban areas being demolished before planning permission has been granted for any new development on the site.

The Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Act 1972 included powers to control the demolition of unlisted buildings in conservation areas. There would be real difficulties in going further than this. I am, however, to discuss the problem with the local authorities' associations at the request of the Association of Municipal Corporations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average building cost of a three-bedroom council flat in Inner London; and how it compares with the same figure for 1970.

The information is not available in the form requested. Average construction cost in tenders approved for Inner London authority flats of two, three or four storeys was £5,990 for the first three quarters of 1972. The comparable figure for 1970 was £4,290.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the present price of a three-bedroom house in Inner London; and how this figure compares with the price in June 1970.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. Tope) on 22nd May.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department will now accept responsibility for the erection and maintenance of fencing on new fast roads, such as dual carriageways, in the same way as it does for motorways; and if he will make a statement.

I do not think any change of practice is called for.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is aware that the compulsory purchase order made with a view to the construction of the Huntingdon Bypass did not include Station House, Huntingdon, the home of Mr. B. Hodge, that he was not notified that his house would have to be demolished but that if he had been so notified he would have made representations at the public inquiry; and what steps will be taken to rectify the matter and to ensure that Mr. Hodge is not deprived of his statutory rights and opportunities.

The compulsory purchase order includes all land needed for the bypass, including Station House. Regrettably, Mr. Hodge was not listed in the schedule owing to a change in the terms of his tenancy of which the Department was unaware. However, a schedule of the land required and a notice of the public inquiry appeared in the local Press, as required by statute. The Huntingdon and Godmanchester Borough Council has agreed to rehouse Mr. and Mrs. Hodge and has already offered two properties, one of which may prove acceptable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated extra cost in maintaining trunk roads and motorways if the permitted maximum axle weight of lorries were raised to 11 tons.

Some £50 million spread over 10 to 15 years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make an order to permit the Red-bridge Borough Council to close Chestnut Grove, Hainault, Ilford, to through vehicular traffic so as to preserve the amenities of Lime Grove, Cypress Grove, Beech Grove and Clinton Crescent. Hainault, Ilford, Essex.

No. I understand the Redbridge London Borough Council has asked the Greater London Council for an order under traffic regulation powers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he can now give a firm date for the start of the Malton bypass on the A64.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the A64 will bypass Malton, York and Tadcaster; and when he hopes it will be dualled from Scallgethorpe to Leeds.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment by what date he anticipates bypass roads around Tadcaster, York and Malton will be completed so as to ease the flow of traffic from the West Riding to the Yorkshire coast.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will confirm that there will be no delay in the starting date of the proposed Malton bypass.

Work on the York bypass will start later this year. In due course we shall be considering the priority to be given to the Malton and Tadcaster bypasses. This will be necessary for my right hon. Friend's promised announcement later this year on the future trunk road programme. The A64 section should, on present plans, have dual carriageways on most of its length by 1980, but these plans naturally depend on the availability of funds.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to register heavy goods vehicle driving instructors.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any statement to make on his recent talks with the building societies.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. Carter) on 4th July.—[Vol. 859, c. 115–16.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the exhibition held at Kings Sutton from 1st to 4th May on a series of possible alternative routes for the M40 motorway between Ardley and Banbury; how many attended; and what lessons have been drawn from this exhibition.

About 1,800 people attended the exhibition. The resultant expression of local opinions will be of value in formulating statutory proposals; and such exhibitions, with some improvement of detail, will clearly be an essential element in future public participation exercises.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will discuss with local authorities the need to maintain supplies of waste paper as a raw material for the paper and board industry.

No. If there were a steady, long-term demand for increased quantities of waste paper at prices which covered local authorities' costs, I have no doubt that local councils could, and would, collect more.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state, evaluating alternative methods of new road construction, if the cost of delays to traffic arising from maintenance is considered as well as the direct maintenance costs.

No; methods of doing so are being developed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the latest report published by the Transport and Road Research Laboratory.

No; the report speaks for itself.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the local authorities which have failed to supply him with information regarding tips or quarries in their areas in or on which chemical wastes are or have been dumped.

My Department initiated a review of all waste disposal facilities in England in April 1972, which will among other things indicate where chemical wastes are being tipped. This review is being undertaken jointly by the local authorities and the Institute of Geological Sciences and the river authorities which are contributing a preliminary assessment of any pollution risks. We have reminded the authorities to complete their returns on two occasions—most recently on June 27th—but at present there would appear to be returns still outstanding from 245 authorities.The following is a list of these English authorities:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied with the progress being made in providing accommodation for single persons.

The White Paper "Widening the Choice" acknowledged that more and better accommodation is needed for single people. We are consulting statutory and voluntary bodies on a more generous grant towards hostel types of accommodation. Also, we will approve for subsidy schemes of self-contained dwellings for single people, whether young or below retirement age, put forward by local authorities and housing associations. These can include schemes on the new lines set at Goscote House, Leicester, by the corporation in conjunction with my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will pay an official visit to the county borough of Newport.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will initiate an investigation designed to establish whether there is a connection between juvenile crime and bad planning practice, neighbourhood destruction, high rise building, and institutional and municipal landlordism.

Government research and other studies in this country and abroad have been made and are continuing into the links between such matters as are listed in my hon. Friend's Question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the minimum weekly wage necessary to obtain a 95 per cent. mortgage advance on an average priced new house in June 1973; and what was the comparative figure for June 1970.

The minimum income necessary to obtain a mortgage advance of any particular size depends on the lending policy of the individual lender.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the policy of the Government towards environmental improvement in the public housing sector.

The Government have taken positive steps to encourage the environmental improvement of public housing estates to good modern standards. Under the Housing Finance Act 1972, reasonable maintenance and environmental improvement works to council housing property can qualify as reckonable expenditure for rising costs subsidy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he now has about the annual expenditure incurred by the average family on motoring, including fuel, oil, purchase, tax, maintenance and insurance; and how this compares with the expenditure by the average family on housing, including purchase, mortgage, rent and rates.

During 1972 in the United Kingdom, households using cars or motor cycles spent on average about £380 on motoring. The average for all households spent on housing was about £300 including mortgage payments and maintenance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in view of the increase in bad driving behaviour on the roads, if he will make proposals to increase penalties for dangerous and careless driving.

While I am not persuaded that drivers' behaviour is deteriorating, penalties are kept under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to help the bondholders of Mersey Docks and Harbour Board to ease the heavy losses they have suffered.

The best help for stockholders would be for all the new facilities at Seaforth Dock, which are being financed entirely by Government loans and grants, to become revenue-earning as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will instruct his working party on London housing to examine and report to him on methods of measuring the unsatisfied demand for public sector housing in Greater London.

The Action Group on London Housing has already put in hand work to update the forecast of housing need made in its second interim report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is aware of the difficulties facing the London borough councils in their efforts to build more and better houses; and if he will make a statement on the action he is prepared to take in this matter.

Yes. Ministers and officials of my Department are in constant contact with London borough councils and will be discussing with them the measures outlined the Government's recent White Papers to help local authorities to deal with their housing problems.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to protect the water supply of the city of Bristol from possible lead and zinc pollution brought about by the extension of limestone quarrying by Consolidated Goldfields and associates at Batts Coombe in the Mendip Hills.

The Bristol Waterworks Company is responsible for the quality of the water it supplies. It maintains very close contacts with the public health authorities for the areas in which it has sources of water supply.If the hon. Member is concerned about the possibility of lime-burning polluting the water supply, I can tell him that this is most unlikely.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to prevent people taking advantage of the delays in planning appeal procedures in order to frustrate the wishes and decisions of local planning authorities; and if he will make a statement.

On the basis of the evidence so far brought to my attention, I consider that the main action called for is to continue the drive to keep planning delays to a minimum. In so far as appeals are concerned, my Department is doing this by the recruitment of more inspectors; in addition, a circular which I have prepared on planning procedures will refer to administrative steps being taken to reduce delays.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement upon his policy towards the future of the British Rail network.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today to a similar Question from the hon. Member for Derby, North (Mr. Whitehead).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he now expects to give his decision on the building of the Portswood link road in Southampton.

The inspector's report on the public inquiries into the Portswood link and other motorway proposals has thrown up a number of difficulties which are taking some time to resolve. An announcement on the decision will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into local government finance.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations he had with local authorities in Northamptonshire before he appointed the lay members of the rent scrutiny board for Northamptonshire.

None. Whilst two members of each rent scrutiny board must be chosen from panel members nominated by the Secretary of State under the provisions of Section 51 (1) of the Housing Finance Act 1972, it is for the president of the area rent assessment panel to appoint members of rent scrutiny boards from the panel. In addition to the qualities of judgment and common sense which are sought for all panel members, nominated lay members will usually have a good knowledge of their locality and an interest in local affairs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will next review the subsidies paid to loss-making railways; and if he will make these subisidies payable for the maximum period.

I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member on 29th January.—[Vol. 849, c. 312.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied with the liaison between his Department and the city of Manchester in relation to slum clearance compulsory purchase order procedures.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has received from the Liverpool City Council about the availability of British Railways land for development in the Walton Division of Liverpool, in response to his circular requesting such information.

All local planning authorities in England were asked to publish information on land availability by circular 102/72. Only authorities in the South East and West Midlands were asked to send this information to the Secretary of State.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will seek power to ensure that where grants are made available for improving or increasing housing accommodation these grants are not used to subsidise and increase office accommodation.

Yes. This is one of the matters covered by the proposals in the White Paper "Better Homes—The Next Priorities".

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to prevent accidents to children and young people in canals in the Black Country by arranging for the authorities concerned to erect security fencing or fill in canals where appropriate, in view of the recent deaths by drowning which have caused widespread concern particularly to parents in the area.

While I greatly regret any such tragic accidents there is no way of eliminating entirely the risks associated with water particularly for young children on their own. The filling in or complete fencing off of a canal is not usually a practicable proposition. In general, however, the local authorities and canal owners concerned are very conscious of the need for safety measures wherever possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the Civil and Public Services Association concerning the need to recruit additional staff and to improve training and personnel management and also morale of existing staff within the Central Driver and Vehicle Licensing project at Morriston; and if he will make a statement.

Representations on these subjects have been received and are being discussed in a constructive way through the well-established local machinery.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will investigate, through the Alkali Inspectorate, the degree of atmospheric pollution caused by the Capper Pass plant at North Ferriby.

The most appropriate machinery for investigating this matter is the local liaison committee, which comprises members of the Alkali Inspectorate, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Department of Health and Social Security and the Capper Pass works, as well as the local authorities. I understand that the district alkali inspector is seeking an early meeting of the committee.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take steps to ensure that all council sewerage authorities discharge their sewage at least 400 yards below low water mark.

No. Most sewage discharges are made to inland rivers. The most satisfactory point for discharge to the sea must be determined in the light of local circumstances, including tidal and other water conditions affecting distribution.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to make the appropriate regulations under the Local Government Act 1973 to provide for superannuation, compensation for loss of office and early retirement in respect of officers affected by local government reorganisation.

I expect to make very shortly the regulations providing benefits for early retirement of chief officers affected by local government reorganisation. A draft of the regulations for compensation for loss of office and diminution of emoluments will be issued for consultation in three weeks' time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received from local authorities who wish to build houses for sale using direct labour; and what replies he has sent.

Eight local authorities have made general representations about the use of direct labour organisations for building for sale and these have been noted. One of them sought approval to a scheme to be carried out by direct labour, and this was refused in accordance with paragraph 4 of Circular No. 60/73.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is now in a position to make a statement on his policy on the building of houses for sale by the direct works departments of local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to paragraph 20 of the recent White Paper "Widening the Choice: The Next Steps in Housing", and to paragraph 4 of the Department's Circular No. 60/73.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authority houses and how many private houses were built in Leek urban district in 1972; and what were the comparable figures for 1970.

There were 40 dwellings, all for private owners, reported completed in the urban district in 1970. For 1972 figures, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to him on 9th May 1973.—[Vol. 856, c. 107.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will seek further powers to help local authorities to enforce housing improvements and disrepair notices.

As stated in the recent White Paper "Better Homes—The Next Priorities", the Government are proposing to extend the powers of local authorities to enable them to compel minimum standards of improvement to tenanted dwellings in general improvement areas, and to a wider range of dwellings within the proposed housing action areas.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the names and addresses and professions of all members of the rent assessment committees in Lancashire.

A list of all rent assessment panel members, from which panel presidents appoint committees as and when required, is already available in the Library, giving their qualifications. It is not departmental practice to disclose private addresses.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many employees of nationalised industries, for which he is the sponsoring Minister, have their wages or salaries paid directly by cheque; and what proportion this is of all employees.

This information is not normally available to my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce legislation to enable local authorities to levy a local tax on caravans in their locality, including caravans parked within the curtilage of the owner's dwelling.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will propose giving relief to disabled persons from paying rates on the land on which garages stand which house officially supplied invalid carriages.

I have no proposals to extend the existing relief from rates of these garages.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will send a circular to local authorities giving guidance on the question of training courses for employees on industrial relations.

No. This is primarily a matter for local government itself. The Local Government Training Board already gives useful advice on such matters and intends to expand this aspect of its work.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is his estimate of the number of additional new posts required for a limited period which will be made to existing water services during the interim period up to April 1974;

I have made no estimate of the likely number of such appointments, either permanent or temporary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the members of the Water Services Staff Advisory Committee, the interests each one represents and the number of meetings and their dates held since its inception.

The members of the Water Services Staff Advisory Committee are:

Sir Patrick McCall (Chairman), formerly clerk of Lancashire County Council.

Lord Cooper of Stockton Heath, formerly general secretary of the National Union of General and Municipal Workers.

Mr. L. F. W. Millis, former director of the British Waterworks Association.

Mr. T. H. Parkinson, formerly town clerk of Birmingham.

Mr. E. W. Williams, chairman of the Central Flintshire Water Board.

They were not appointed in a representative capacity, but for the personal contribution they might make. Since their first meeting on 8th February, they have had 10 further committee meetings, and they have held 12 meetings in various parts of the country, each of two sessions, at which they have met representatives of employees and employers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the traffic flows recorded on the A30/303 in August 1965 and in August 1972.

To the north-east of the A303-A37 junction, the flows were 6,317 and 8,931 vehicles, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will arrange for an exhibition of paintings by hon. Members of this House and by Members of the House of Lords to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall.

I have arranged with the authorities of the House for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from 16th to 27th July 1973. I am sure that hon. Members are as grateful as I am to my hon. Friend for his efforts in this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps are being taken by his Department, in the light of Resolution 510 adopted by the Council of Europe at its January 1972 session, with regard to the limitation of pollutant emissions from motor vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

Regulations were made last year to control vehicle emissions of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons. We are discussing what further controls are needed within the European Community.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will arrange for the collection and publication in the annual report "Rating and Valuation in England and Wales" of statistics showing, on a sample basis for each county, the number of cases in which the actual rate demands made on the various categories of ratepayer for whom aggregate statistics are published have increased by intervals of 10 per cent. between one year and the next.

No. The collection of this information from the individual rating authorities in each county could place an undue burden on them at this time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will arrange for a direction sign to be erected on the Ml showing the way to the M62.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will strengthen the new model standing orders for local authorities now in the course of preparation by his Department, especially those dealing with the issue and accept- ance of tenders and the placing of contracts and make the acceptance of such standing orders obligatory on all local authorities.

I am considering what changes are needed to the model standing orders relating to local authorities' contracts in the light of reorganisation and our accession to the EEC. I am prepared to consider other proposals too, but have no power to make the model mandatory.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to amend the regulations concerning loose bulk loads transported by lorry, to provide that such loads be completely covered at all times, in view of the danger to other road users of spillage.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Middleton and Prestwich (Mr. Haselhurst) on 15th May.—[Vol. 865, c. 294.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will call for a return to be made by all housing authorities in England and Wales showing the number in each area of properties standing empty and falling into further disrepair consequent upon clearance orders having been made within the last 18 months, and giving an estimate of the number of such houses which could at reasonable expense be restored to a habitable condition.

The Government expect local authorities to be conscious of the need to prevent, whenever practicable, houses standing empty or falling into neglect while the statutory procedures preceding clearance are carried out. The Government have also made it clear in the White Paper "Better Homes—The Next Priorities" that they wish to encourage local authorities to phase their renewal programmes by carrying out improvements to sub-standard houses on a scale commensurate with the length of time for which they can reasonably be made habitable. I doubt however whether it would be right at this time to ask local authorities for a return as my hon. Friend suggests; but I will keep the matter under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the implementation of the policy set out in the recent White Papers, Cmnd. 5280 and 5339, particularly with regard to the suggested preservation of existing communities and the renewal of properties previously scheduled for clearance.

It is too early to expect full implementation of all the new measures, some of which will require legislation. I am confident that local authorities will take account of the Government's views on planned renewal, as set out in the White Paper (Cmnd. 5339), although the precise measures to be taken in any area can only be determined in the light of local circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will urge local housing authorities to give priority to the reconditioning of house properties within existing communities.

Yes. My hon. Frend will have seen the proposals in the White Paper "Better Homes—The Next Priorities". I hope that local authorities in drawing up their housing proposals will have regard to the Government's views on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will urge local housing authorities not to permit dwelling-houses to remain empty for considerable lengths of time whilst awaiting clearance, but to endeavour to secure their conversion and development in order to supplement the present demand for housing.

In the recent White Paper "Better Homes—The Next Priorities", the Government have called upon local authorities to avoid dwellings lying needlessly empty, both in clearance areas and elsewhere. Not all unfit properties awaiting clearance can reasonably be converted or improved; in some cases it would be uneconomic to spend more than is necessary for their temporary use. But in general I agree with my hon. Friend and refer him to paragraphs 15 and 16 of the White Paper which deals with the Government's views on the desirability of improving and converting old property.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to complete the erection of centre safety barriers on all motorways.

I expect that the programme which I announced on 27th August 1970 will be completed in 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his plans to provide an extra lane in the heavily congested two-lane sections of the Ml and M4, respectively.

Plans for the widening of the two-lane section of Ml between Berrygrove, near Watford, and Break-spears, near Hemel Hempstead, to provide four lanes in each direction were announced in March last year. Subject to the satisfactory completion of the statutory and other necessary procedures, my right hon. Friend hopes to be able to authorise the scheme for start of work in the first part of 1974–75. There are no proposals to widen the elevated two-lane section of M4 between Brentford and Chiswick.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of recently published evidence of the dangers inherent in the use of certain car head-rests, he will introduce legislation to prescribe safety standards or take other steps to bring to the notice of prospective purchasers of head-rests the risks inherent in their use.

I know of no evidence that injuries have been caused by headrests and am not persuaded that legislation is required. It is important, however, to distinguish between head restraints which form part, or are firmly anchored to, the seat and which are designed to provide protection and those which are designed to provide comfort.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the local authorities in the South East and in the West Midlands which have and have not submitted by 1st June 1973 a statement of areas which may be available for housing in the five years beginning 1st October 1977.

Eight local planning authorities in the South East and West Midlands have submitted statements of areas which may become available for housing in the five years beginning in October 1977. The authorities concerned are Bournemouth CB, Eastbourne CB, Essex CC, Kent CC, Luton CB, West Sussex in the South East and Coventry CB and Wolverhampton CB in the West

Region				County Councils	County Boroughs
South East	…	…	…	Bedfordshire
				Buckinghamshire
				East Sussex
North West	…	…	…	Lancashire	Bury
					Barrow-in-Furness
					Blackpool
					Oldham
					St. Helens
					Manchester
					Preston
					Wigan
					Liverpool
					Salford
					Warrington
East Midlands	…	…	…	Kesteven
West Midlands	…	…	…	Worcestershire	Walsall
East Anglia	…	…	…	Norfolk
South West	…	…	…	Devon	Exeter
				Dorset	Bath
				Somerset	Gloucester
Yorkshire and Humberside	…	…	…	Lindsey	Dewsbury
				East Riding	York
				West Riding	Leeds
					Wakefield
Northern	…	…	…	North Riding	Darlington
				Westmorland	Tynemouth

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to ascertain the number of mortgages granted to people living in Inner London during the last 12 months who are earning salaries of £1,500 a year.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he can now say when he expects to name the Midlands. The remainder have yet to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those local authorities which have not published details of undeveloped sites in their areas on which residential housing can start within a five-year period estimated from 1st October 1972 as requested in Department of Environment circular 102/72; and if he will make a statement.

Listed below are those local planning authorities which have not yet published such information. Over half these authorities are expected to publish the information within the next month.date when the next London borough council elections will take place.

I am unable at this stage to add to the reply given to the hon. Member for Tottenham (Mr. Atkinson) on 9th July.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about the danger to road users in general which could arise from the instability of Government issued three-wheeled vehicles for disabled drivers; and if he will make a statement.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will draw up plans designed to divert essential building resources away from non-important luxury developments into the public housing development sector.

The best way to deal with the situation in which there are heavy demands on the building industry as at present is to improve the supply of scarce resources, especially skilled labour, rather than arbitrarily to discriminate against private housing or other forms of building.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names and occupations of the present members of the Yorkshire Rent Assessment Panel.

A list of all rent assessment panel members showing their qualifications is already available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to make provision for the education of the children of Service men from central funds.

I am looking into the difficulties that arise in the very small number of cases where Service men previously resident in Scotland are posted elsewhere and wish to leave their children in Scotland to complete their education.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names and addresses of the members already appointed to the Fife area health board, giving the period to be served; and how many are over 65 years of age.

Particulars of members so far appointed to health boards are given in my reply today to the hon. Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Robert Hughes). Of those appointed to the Fife Health Board, none is over 65 years of age.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the proposed new area health board in Fife is composed of seven known Conservatives, three known medical men, one known Liberal, one of uncertain political association and three known Socialists, in a region which is predominantly Socialist, and that there are at least nine representatives from East Fife and three from the West; and whether he will eliminate this political and geographical imbalance.

As I have said before, appointments have been made on the basis of the personal contribution that the individuals concerned can be expected to make and not on a representative basis. The balance of membership will be appointed later this year, and I shall consider carefully all the specific suggestions that reach me.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will list those beaches round the Scottish coast which are the subject of oil pollution prevention schemes together with the responsible authority.

Responsibility for dealing with oil on beaches rests with the appropriate county and town councils, a number of which have joint schemes. Schemes have been prepared for the whole of the Scottish coast.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what complaints he has received about sewage being discharged by shipping in the Peterhead harbour of refuge; and if he will make a statement.

I have not received any such complaints. I have, however, received representations from the Peterhead Amenities Association expressing its concern over the possibilities of pollution in the bay harbour from both sewage and oil spillage. My Department has arranged to take the necessary preventive steps.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names of those persons appointed to health boards in Scotland, the period of membership in each case, and the organisations or bodies consulted in respect of each person who was nominated.

Health Board and Membership	Period of Membership (Years)	Experience
ARGYLL AND CLYDE
Mr. W. P. Blyth, OStJ, TD, Chairman, Clarkston	4	Hospital Board of Management
Mr. W. A. Adam, Dumbarton	4	Hospital Board of Management and Local Government
Dr. H. Conway, BSc, MB, FRCP, FRCP (Glas), Paisley	4	Consultant, Hospital Board of Management and University
Mrs. E. L. Denny, OBE, PhD, Gartocharn	2	Regional Hospital Board
Mr. G. T. Houston, Johnstone	2	Local Government
Mr. A. Lyall, OBE, MD, ChM, FRCS, Greenock	2	Consultant, Hospital Board of Management
Mr. D. McKinven, Campbeltown	4	Regional Hospital Board and Local Government
Ex-Provost R. Maclean, DL, Rothesay	2	Hospital Board of Management and Local Government
Dr. A. C. Mayer, MBE, MB, ChB, Tarbert (Loch Fyne)	4	General Practitioner and NHS Executive Council
Mrs. J. Y. Nelson, Connel	4	Hospital Board of Management
Mr. J. C. Reedie, Glasgow	4	Hospital Board of Management and Trade Union
Mr. J. D. Ryan, BDS, Greenock	2	Dentist, Local Government
AYRSHIRE AND ARRAN
Mr. J. Lockhart, JP, Chairman, Mauchline	4	Hospital Board of Management
Mr. T. W. Alexander, Brodick	2	Hospital Board of Management
Mr. R. H. Banks, Kilmarnock	4	Hospital Board of Management, Local Government and Trade Union
Dr. J. Devine, MB, ChB, Kilmarnock	4	General Practitioner and NHS Executive Council
Mrs. J. Vera Finlay, Troon	2	Hospital Board of Management
Mr. W. S. Fyfe, Prestwick	4	Local Government
Mrs. C. L. Hutchison, Dunlop	4	Hospital Board of Management and Nursing
Mr. D. McGhie, MBE, Ayr	2	Law
Provost Mrs. A. S. Mackie, Kilmarnock	2	Hospital Board of Management and Local Government
Mr. W. C. G. Pearson, MA, EdB (Dip), New Cumnock	2	Hospital Board of Management
Mr. J. Peterkin, Ayr	2	Hospital Board of Management and Trade Union
Mr. J. D. Pollock, BSc, FEIS, Ayr	4	Hospital Board of Management and Trade Union
Mr. G. J. Ralston, MA, LLB, MB, ChB, FRCS (Edin.), FRCS (Glas.), Kilmarnock	4	Consultant, Hospital Board of Management
Dr. A. Slessor, MB, ChB, FRCP (Edin and Glas), Ayr	4	Consultant, University
Mr. A. C. H. Todd, Girvan	2	Hospital Board of Management and Local Government
BORDERS
Mr. J. Gibb, MA, LLB, Chairman, Peebles	4	Regional Hospital Board and NHS Executive Council
Mrs. M. C. Anthony, Galashiels	4	Hospital Board of Management and Nursing
Mr. P. M. Colvin-Smith, Selkirk	2	Local Government
Miss Caroline Douglas-Home, Coldstream	2	Hospital Board of Management
Mr. A. H. Duff, LDS, RFPS (Glas.), Galashiels	2	Dentist, Hospital Board of Management and NHS Executive Council
Lt. Col. F. R. N. Kerr, OBE, MC, VL, JP, Duns	4	Regional Hospital Board and Local Government

Particulars of members so far appointed are given below; I expect to appoint the balance of the membership later this year. In regard to the last part of the Question, invitations to submit names were sent in general terms to cover 200 organisations, so that it is not possible to relate consultation to individual names. I have, however, shown against members their main previous experience.