asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much surplus railway land has been disposed of by British Rail since the formation of Railway Sites Limited.

£143 million worth up to 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what decision he has made in regard to the proposed improvement of the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

I hope to be able to make a statement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why he will not introduce legislation to provide for the meetings of rent scrutiny boards to be held in public.

Because it would be inappropriate to the task of the boards.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce legislation to amend the Housing Finance Act so that at least one member of each county rent scrutiny board is a tenant.

No. My right hon. and learned Friend would be reluctant to limit the discretion of panel presidents in selecting members of rent scrutiny boards from rent assessment panels. For his part, in appointing members to the panels, he chooses the people best qualified for the job, who may live in any type of house including tenants of council houses.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the work of the rent scrutiny boards set up under the Housing Finance Act 1972.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a similar Question from the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now introduce legislation for sittings of the rent scrutiny boards to be in public.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a similar Question from the hon. Member for Hackney, Central (Mr. Clinton Davis) earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce legislation to ensure that wherever a local authority or other public body purchases land for development purposes the names of the person or persons from whom the land is purchased are listed on a register open to public inspection.

As regards local authorities, it would be best to await the report of the recently appointed committee on rules of conduct for members and officials of such authorities; any recommendation relating to local authorities on this subject in that report would give a lead to the course to be taken as regards other public bodies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now proceed with the deferred scheme for a Dorchester bypass.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the postponement of the Witney bypass.

These schemes, along with others, will be considered for a place in the future programme during the review my right hon. and learned Friend will carry out shortly. A statement on the programme will be made before the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on his investigation of complaints of industrial air and water pollution in the East End of Sheffield.

I visited Sheffield on 15th October. Responsibility for control of industrial emissions to the air rests with my Department's Alkali and Clean Air Inspectorate and the Sheffield Corporation. The control authorities are taking practicable steps to prevent or reduce air pollution.

With regard to water pollution, Yorkshire River Authority, in controlling discharges into the river, and the Sheffield Corporation in meeting conditions imposed on its treatment works discharges and in controlling trade effluents discharged to its sewers, are actively endeavouring to reduce that pollution.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has received any communications from local authorities about the future of overspill estates; and what answer he has given.

Circular 107/73, "Housing Accommodation Outside a Local Authority's Area", was issued on 24th August. This followed consultation with the local authority associations and the circular took account of their views.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received on the consultative document regarding alternative routes to Maplin; and if he will make a statement.

By Friday 12th October, the. closing date, over 2,800 people had sent me their comments on the alternative access routes. Some 60 local authorities and organisations have also commented. When I have considered the comments received I will be making a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements have been made to receive the opinions and objections of the public on the proposed and preferred routes for road and rail links between Maplin and London; how many communications in this regard have so far been received by his Department via local authorities and otherwise; and what is the general character of the public response to date.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a similar Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Billericay (Mr. McCrindle) earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the figures of comparative work costs given in the Consultative Document on the Maplin project include the cost of land acquisition.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement about the progress of consultation on the Maplin project.

Consultation documents on surface access routes to Maplin and proposed new town, published in July, were sent to local authorities and other interested bodies and were made widely available to the public in the areas concerned. Comments on both were invited by 12th October and all the views expressed will be taken into account.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what complaints he has received from local authorities and others about the length of time given for consideration of the Maplin consultation documents; and whether he will make a statement.

Some local authorities and other bodies have asked for extra time. It should be possible to accommodate these requests within the period which will be needed to analyse and assess the replies of individual members of the public. My right hon. and learned Friend hopes to make a statement after considering the comments received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT his answers to the list of proposals made by Transport 2000, a copy of which has been sent to him by the hon. Member for Willesden, West, to encourage the switch of heavy freight from roads to rail.

I am considering these proposals in the course of my review of rail policy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total of all persons ( a ) killed and ( b ) seriously injured in all road accidents for the latest year for which figures are available; and how many of the accidents in each case involved heavy goods vehicles.

7,763 persons were killed and 91,338 seriously injured during 1972. Heavy goods vehicles were involved in 1,249 fatal accidents and 6,070 serious accidents. 1,417 people were killed and 7,844 seriously injured.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will reconsider the policy of producing 2½-inch Ordnance Survey maps only for areas where the sales are likely to meet the cost of production.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many letters he has received on the subject of the future of the Ordnance Survey 2½ inch-to-the-mile series of maps.

A review has been carried out of the requirement for maps at the scale of 2½ inches to the mile. Over 150 bodies were consulted, and in addition more than 600 letters on this question were received. I have taken the decision that the Ordnance Survey should continue to publish map coverage of England, Wales and Scotland at this scale.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will revise the formula for locally determined loan sanction allocations to ease the burden on ratepayers of towns involved in expansion schemes approved by his Department.

The local authority associations agree with me that because of the complications caused by local government reorganisation it would not be practicable to distribute the allocations in 1974–75 otherwise than on a population basis pro rata with that which existing component authorities of the new authority had in 1973–74. I have under consideration my hon. Friend's point in the arrangements for future years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the arrangements in the United Kingdom for fire testing and marketing plastic materials used in building construction so as to make their flammability readily apparent to suppliers, users and purchasers.

Fire testing in the United Kingdom of plastic materials used in building construction is carried out at the request of manufacturers by the Joint Fire Research Organisation and other testing laboratories. The Agrement Board tests plastics materials for their general suitability for use in buildings and publishes certificates setting out the results of its assessment.

There are no arrangements for marking plastic materials other than those devised by individual manufacturers. However, the marking of plastics to indicate the flammability of the material per se would not provide a complete safeguard because behaviour in fire depends on the way in which the material is used in a building. This problem is at present under consideration by my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further steps he intends to take to reduce the atmospheric pollution emanating from the coalite and chemical plant at Rossington to acceptable limits.

The best practicable means to minimise emissions are at present in full operation. The Alkali and Clean Air Inspectorate is exercising close supervision and will effect further improvements wherever it can.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what repre sentations have been made to him about the deferment of the Manchester Piccadilly to Victoria railway tunnel; and what replies he has sent.

I have received many representations and met a deputation from the Greater Manchester Council and the Passenger Transport Authority in Manchester last week. I made it clear that although restrictions on public expenditure will not permit a start on the project in 1974–75 I have not yet decided on its merits but will do so before the end of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received concerning the Manchester Piccadilly-Victoria line.

I have received representations from Members of Parliament, local authorities and other bodies. I told a deputation from the Greater Manchester Council last week that I would reach a decision on the merits of the project by the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will state the current costing of tie Manchester Piccadilly-Victoria line including rolling stock and the expected cost of the scheme if commenced in 1976, 1977, and 1978, respectively, at current rates of inflation.

The estimated cost of the submitted scheme is now £88.3 million at 1973 prices. There is no present reason to expect the real costs of the project to vary with particular starting dates.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the cost of the Manchester Piccadilly and Victoria line expressed as a percentage of the cost of a third London airport, Concorde and the Channel Tunnel, respectively.

Picc-Vic would be much less costly than the projects mentioned. But a more meaningful comparison would be with other public transport schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received on his refusal to provide immediate grant support for the proposed Manchester Central Underground Rail Link; if he will list the representative bodies from which representations have been received; what replies he has made; and if he will make a statement.

I have received representations from the following bodies: SELNEC Passenger Transport Authority. Greater Manchester Metropolitan County Council. Manchester City Council. New Cheshire County Council. Stockport Metropolitan District Council. Tameside Metropolitan District Council. Bolton Metropolitan District Council. County Borough of Rochdale. County Borough of Bolton. County Borough of Oldham. County Borough of Stockport. Borough of Middleton. Borough of Dukinfield. Borough of Radcliffe. Borough of Farnworth. Borough of Mossley. Cheadle and Gatley Urban District Council. Bowdon Urban District Council. Tyldesley Urban District Council. Whitefield Urban District Council. Horwich Urban District Council. Kearsley Urban District Council. Little Lever Urban District Council. Hazel Grove and Bramhall Urban District Council. Tintwistle Rural District Council. Marple Labour Party. Labour Party Temporary Co-ordinating Committee of Rochdale Metropolitan District. Atherton Trades Council and Labour Party. Radcliffe and District Trades Council. The Liberal Party, Greater Manchester Region. Newton Heath Ward Labour Party. Norwest Co-operative Society Limited. Alexandra Ward Labour Party. Bolton West Conservative Association. Bury Trades Council. Manchester Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Transport 2000.

I have told the authority a decision will be reached on the merits of the project by the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will issue a circular to local authorities drawing their attention to the increasing incursion of building societies, estate agents and other office users into predominantly shopping areas and recommending that a strict limit be placed upon planning permissions granted for such non-shopping uses.

No, Sir. Local planning authorities are responsible for the control of development in their areas and I am sure they are well able to take account of the need for such office businesses and of their suitability in shopping areas.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to make compulsory an axle weight indicator on all commercial vehicles.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue a circular to local authorities suggesting high priority for sheltered housing schemes for the elderly.

The recent White Paper, "Widening the Choice: the Next Steps in Housing", has already made it clear that the Government look to local authorities and voluntary bodies to pay particular attention to the special housing needs of the elderly. My right hon. and learned Friend is considering what new initiatives are needed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received concerning the despoiling of beaches in County Durham.

My right hon. and learned Friend has received representations from Durham County Council, Easington Rural District Council and Sea-ham Urban District Council. The authorities have been told that everything possible is being done to reach an early conclusion on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give a general direction to British Rail to carry coal and coke in bulk and so relieve road traffic.

No. British Rail already carries 70 per cent. of NCB output by the free choice of users.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many starts have been made in the council house sector so far in 1973; and what was the figure for the comparable period of 1972.

For England and Wales to the end of August in each year, the public sector starts are 65,200 and 73,417.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will undertake that no commitment to phase 2 of the Channel Tunnel project will be made until the report of the Monopolies Commission on ferry services is available and there has been sufficient time to incorporate its results into a revised cost-benefit analysis of the tunnel.

No. As I explained to my hon. Friend on 4th July—[Vol. 859, c. 108–9 ]—the cost-benefit study was based on the costs of the sea ferries, not current fares. It took full account of possible changes in fare levels from whatever cause.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now produce information pamphlets on the Channel Tunnel for general distribution; and if he will ensure that such pamphlets are written in laymen's language.

No. The Government's position on the project was fully set out in the recent White Paper (Cmnd. 5430). I understand that the British Channel Tunnel Company has it in mind to publish material of the sort suggested, while British Railways have already published a brochure setting out their proposals for a new, high-speed rail link and through services to the Continent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to ease the shortage of board plaster, copper tube and fittings, plaster board and general iron work guttering which is causing excessive delays in major building works.

I am in close touch with manufacturers and their associations in order to ensure that everything possible is done to overcome delays in the supply of certain building materials.

The supply position on copper tube and fittings has improved and that on plaster and plasterboard is expected to improve. I am not aware of any general shortage of ironwork guttering.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has received representations regarding the problems arising out of the Land Compensation Act 1973 which creates injustices; and what action he proposes to take.

Some representations have been received about the commencement date and qualifying period for home loss payments laid down in Section 29 of the Act. These provisions were fully debated during the passage of the Bill and are in no way unjust. No action is proposed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total cost of the second public inquiry into the proposed Kielder Water project.

The known Cost to my Department of the reopened inquiry was £8,500. Since the normal rule is that parties to a public inquiry bear their own costs I am not in a position to estimate the total cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the nature of new evidence submitted to the public inquiry on the Kielder water proposal; and which factors influenced his ultimate decision to approve the scheme.

The nature of the new evidence and the reasons for my decision, which took account of all the evidence given at both stages of the inquiry, were fully set out in the decision letter. I am sending a copy to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects construction work on the Kielder water project to commence, and what estimate he has made of the increased building costs involved as a result of ministerial refusal to accept the recommendation of the first public inquiry.

I understand that, subject to the necessary parliamentary proceedings, the Northumbrian River Authority hopes that it will be possible to begin the main construction work in the early summer of 1974.

No relevant or practical estimates of any increased costs can be made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment by which date he estimates that supplies will begin to flow from Kielder Water to County Durham and Teesside.

I understand that, if it is possible to begin the main construction work in the early summer of 1974, the river authority hopes that water will be supplied by the aqueduct to regulate the rivers Wear and Tees in 1979.

asked the Secretary of Stale for the Environment if he is satisfied with the present operation of the register of qualified driving instructors.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider legislation to provide for compulsory insignia to be displayed at all times on the vehicles of qualified driving instructions and accredited driving schools.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be able to announce the results of his departmental inquiry into the safety of high-handlebar children's bicycles.

There has been no change since I wrote to the hon. Member on 30th July. In the light of my Department's investigations I see no reason to regulate in any special way the manufacture or sale of high-rise bicycles. Children should be trained to ride cycles of whatever type.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all the authorities in the North-West Region that have participated in the Operation Eyesore scheme, and how much each has so far received towards project costs.

169 local authorities in the North-West Region participated in Operation Eyesore. Records do not readily show how much has been paid to the respective authorities and, because of outstanding claims, the listing of such payments would not indicate either the value of work completed or the extent of Exchequer assistance. The following list gives the number of schemes and the total amount approved for the respective authorities.

Local Authority Approved Expenditure Sites COUNTY COUNCILS Cheshire 339,237 74 Derbyshire 15,853 7 Lancashire 392,992 238 COUNTY BOROUGHS Barrow in Furness 20,742 18 Birkenhead 145,484 133 Blackburn 791,191 175 Blackpool 258,477 35 Bolton 464,367 84 Bootle 172,072 41 Burnley 184,831 72 Bury 158,894 43 Chester 57,738 22 Liverpool 2,174,728 1,134 Manchester 2,692,895 402 Oldham 495,884 165 Preston 221,294 84 Rochdale 151,077 76 St. Helens 88,510 44 Salfor 659,958 55 Southport 79,015 29 Stockport 173,357 54 Wallasey 146,710 74 Warrington 98,109 61 Wigan 202,085 60 BOROUGH COUNCILS Accrington 278,137 59 Altrincham 14,051 95 Ashton-under-Lyne 179,600 60 Bacup 73,526 59 Bebington 48,722 23 Buxton 35,851 19 Chorley 42,560 23 Clitheroe 75,729 61 Colne 68,868 40 Congleton 3,142 8 Crewe 21,984 14 Crosby 77,306 9 Darwen 70,533 39 Dukinfield 111,582 46 Eccles 205,731 74 Ellesmere Port 62,185 9 Farnworth 21,782 10 Fleet wood 134,161 22 Glossop 66,487 38 Haslingden 28,995 30 Heywood 68,665 15 Hyde 180,061 35 Lancaster 29,941 13 Leigh 33,731 59

Local Authority Approved Expenditure Sites Lytham St. Annes 4,503 7 Macclesfield 48,079 22 Middleton 366,410 57 Morecambe and Heysham 72,984 26 Mossley 85,298 26 Nelson 76,889 33 Prestwich 99,216 38 Radcliffe 22,733 16 Rawtenstall 138,028 50 Sale 111,059 32 Stalybridge 51,756 23 Stretford 183,298 40 Swinton and Pendlebury 160,082 21 Widnes 92,367 25 URBAN DISTRICT COUNCILS Abram 22,550 21 Adlington 14,279 13 Alsager 465 1 Ashton in Makerfield 6,890 3 Aspull 26,045 9 Atherton 136,312 71 Audenshaw 91,675 71 Barrowford 1,824 3 Billinge and Winstanley 4,089 5 Blackrod 5,676 2 Bowden 3,420 4 Bredbury and Romiley 187,373 45 Brierfield 11,000 2 Carnforth 3,776 1 Chadderton 149,974 17 Cheadle and Gatley 42,068 14 Church 20,443 20 Clayton-le-Moors 5,540 5 Crompton 51,324 29 Dalton in Furness 13,500 1 Denton 69,774 18 Droylsden 277,338 49 Failsworth 4,066 4 Formby 11,931 6 Fulwood 4,740 2 Golborne 19,691 8 Grange 2,200 1 Great Harwood 28,279 23 Hale 18,161 2 Haydock 6,684 4 Hazel Grove and Bramhal 13,816 6 Hindley 231,226 84 Horwich 11,807 4 Hoylake 49,300 4 Huyton-with-Roby 60,427 23 Ince-in-Makerfield 83,217 37 Irlam 16,650 9 Kearsley 37,438 10 Kirkby 55,082 48 Kirkham 13,455 4 Knutsford 22,429 6 Lees 19,586 15 Leyland 69,177 12 Litherland 17,480 13 Littleborough 16,858 13 Little Lever 17,002 2 Longdendale 2,100 3 Longridge 14,311 12 Lymm 24,866 5 Marple 21,751 16 Middlewich 3,133 3 Milnrow 12,975 14 Nantwich 24,199 5 Neston 2,365 2 New Mills 49,830 2 Local Authority Approved Expenditure Sites Newton le Willows 38,628 13 Northwich 114,308 13 Ormskirk 63,576 14 Orrell 12,569 5 Oswaldtwistle 21,341 19 Padiham 23,341 21 Poulton le Fylde 29,207 4 Prescot 61,580 9 Ramsbottom 42,439 26 Rishton 6,992 15 Royton 66,805 20 Runcorn 30,221 13 Sandbach 701 1 Skelmersdale and Holland 139,825 35 Standish with Langtree 4,521 5 Thornton Cleveleys 59,260 20 Tottington 19,738 14 Trawden 11,194 3 Turton 75,680 30 Tyldesley 156,739 26 Urmston 20,550 10 Walton le Dale 850 1 Westhoughton 25,785 13 Whitefield 63,716 7 Whitworth 45,412 23 Wilmslow 29,231 4 Winsford 210,034 26 Withnell 8,935 3 Worsley 119,597 40 RURAL DISTRICT COUNCILS Blackburn 18,235 8 Bucklow 1,686 3 Burnley 99,278 35 Chapel-en-le-Frith 21,094 9 Chorley 36,358 139 Clitheroe 6,788 11 Congleton 500 1 Disley 5,893 1 Fylde 4,560 4 Garstang 1,499 3 Lancaster 1,373 3 Lunesdale 1,697 3 Macclesfield 18,117 3 Nantwich 26,477 6 Northwich 14,879 21 North Lonsdale 14,075 3 Preston 6,714 13 Runcorn 15,059 7 Tarvin 300 1 Warrington 27,842 16 Whiston 47,506 11 Wigan 64,430 25

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will announce his decision on the applications made by the West Riding and Lindsey County Councils for a 40 miles per hour speed limit on the A161 through the village of Eastoft.

My right hon. and learned Friend's consent to the imposition of a 40 m.p.h speed limit through Eastoft has been given and the decision letters are being sent to the councils concerned today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further representations he has received from local authorities on the subject of continuing pollution of Durham beaches by disposal of colliery waste material: and what replies he has given.

Since the hon. Member's previous Question on the subject, on 30th June last, letters have been received from the Durham County Council and the Easington Rural District Council asking when a decision will be taken. They have been told that everything possible is being done to reach an early conclusion on the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what steps he now proposes to take to prevent further despoliation of Durham beaches by tipping of colliery waste materials;

(2) what consideration he is giving to alternative methods of disposal of waste materials from collieries situated on the Durham coast; and if he will make a statement.

These matters are under active examination and everything possible is being done to reach an early conclusion on them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many reports have been commissioned since 1970 on the question of waste disposal from Durham coastal pits; and if he will name the consultants.

There have been two further investigations since the Hydraulics Research Station completed its report in November 1970 on the effects of colliery waste tipping on the coastal processes. In February 1972 a feasibility study on a proposed breakwater at Crimdon Park was completed by Messrs. Dobbie, Sandford, Fawcett and Partners, consulting engineers, on behalf of the Easington Rural District Council. In April 1972 a report on the financial implications of disposing of the waste at sea was completed by a working party comprised of officials of my Department, the Department of Trade and Industry and the National Coal Board.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many deaths have occurred as a result of "cross-over" accidents on the A690 road through Houghton-le-Spring following highway modernisation.

Statistics of road accidents and casualties in local areas are a matter for the local authorities concerned. I suggest that the hon. Member contacts the Durham County Council which is the highway authority for this road.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from Durham County Council concerning provision of central barriers on the A690 road through Houghton-le-Spring.

The county council has supported the proposals put forward by the district council for the provision of central barriers over a section of this road where there is a particular hazard.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment to what extent he considers provision of central barriers on the A690 through Houghton-le-Spring is retarded because of governmental restrictions on public expenditure.

Not at all.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria he uses when considering proposals for provision of central barriers on highways.

Central barriers are now being provided on all busy motorways. I am considering further what should be done on other highways.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he now has to increase the number of houses available for letting.

I would refer the hon. Member to Parts IV and V of the White Paper "Widening the Choice: The Next Steps in Housing" (Cmnd.5280).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will enter into discussion with the British Transport Docks Board about a major port development in South-East Wales.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether in the knowledge of the Summerland and other disasters from fire he is satisfied that the present reliance on small-scale laboratory testing of materials in accordance with British Standard 476 is a realistic guide to performance of building materials under fire conditions; and whether he will implement a programme of full-scale tests of representative materials as a matter of urgency.

The structural fire precautions requirements of the Building Regulations 1972 are in the main expressed as performance standards which are related to the performance of the material or element of structure when tested in accordance with specific tests which give a realistic guide to the

HOUSE IMPROVEMENT GRANTS FOR PRIVATE OWNERS AND HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS Discretionary grants Standard grants Approved Approved Paid Number of dwellings Amount Number of dwellings Amount Number of dwellings Amount £ £ £ Macclesfield B 1970 … … 8 1,935 65 .. 50 10,568 1971 … … 23 9,566 93 22,219 1972 … … 38 19,213 104 38,739 Macclesfield RD 1970 … … 25 14,163 23 .. 19 3,230 1971 … … 31 17,786 26 4,368 1972 … … 38 31,966 30 8,754 Congleton B 1970 … … 7 2,571 44 .. 26 4,474 1971 … … 17 5,727 33 8,350 1972 … … 13 8,352 30 10,492 Bollington UD 1970 … … 7 3,192 21 .. 9 1,184 1971 … … 10 5,252 16 2,974 1972 … … — — — — Disley RD 1970 … … 1 65 10 .. 10 1,739 1971 … … 5 2,244 15 2,066 1972 … … 3 561 4 728

behaviour of materials under fire conditions. It is only in recent years, however, that plastics have been used to any great extent in the construction of buildings, and our knowledge of their behaviour is growing all the time, as indeed are the number and variety of the materials used. There is undoubtedly a continuing need to develop suitable tests and we shall be looking at this closely, particularly in relation to the findings of the Summerland Commission of Inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the number and total value of housing improvement grants under his departmental schemes approved by the following local authorities: Macclesfield Borough Council, Macclesfield Rural District Council, Congleton Borough Council, Bollington Urban District Council and Disley Rural District Council, for each of the last three years.

The information available about grants approved by the authorities is given below. As the amount of standard grants approved is not available for the years before 1971, the numbers and amounts of these grants paid in 1970 are also shown.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to enable local authorities to reclaim moneys paid in housing improvement grants where there has been a resale of property.

The White Paper "Better Homes—The Next Priorities" (Cmnd. 5339) contained the Government's proposals for changes in the improvement grant system. These included a discretionary power to be given to local authorities to attach conditions, binding over a specified period, to grants made to owners other than owner-occupiers. It is proposed that if those conditions were breached, the grant would have to be repaid to the local authority, with compound interest. Consultations on these proposals preparatory to the introduction of legislation are in progress.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will examine the necessity for legislation in regard to contracting and tendering by local authorities, with particular reference to the operation of the House Improvement Grants Scheme.

The practical implications of matters such as these are kept under constant review, but I have no reason to suppose that further legislation is required.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give further guidance to the Cheshire County Council on the introduction of advisory routing for heavy lorries in the county as soon as possible, in order to safeguard lives and buildings in many of the older villages and towns, particularly Macclesfield.

A circular is to be sent to all local authorities almost immediately. I will send a copy to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is aware of the continuing concern at the use of British roads by heavy lorries from Europe; if he will state the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to limiting weights and routes; and if he will make a statement.

I am continuing to oppose the lorry weight limits, particularly the axle loadings previously proposed in EEC. Foreign lorries using our roads have to comply with British limits and with any route restrictions on large or heavy vehicles.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will see that the inspectors who compile listed building lists contact the Department of Trade and Industry to see that any woollen mills which may be demolished under a modernisation scheme are assessed by them to see if they are worthy of being listed as of archaeological and/or historical interest.

The need to safeguard. commercial information supplied to the Department of Trade and Industry in confidence precludes it from disclosing information about applications.

It is of course open to local authorities, amenity societies and individual members of the public to bring to my Department's attention any buildings that they consider merit statutory protection. Any woollen mills notified to my Department in this way will be assessed urgently.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will ensure that any woollen buildings worthy of listed status will not be demolished or barred from the list because of possible demolition without his fullest consideration of their industrial archaeological importance.

Yes. Any woollen mills of statutory list quality will be listed. This will ensure that they cannot be demolished without the fullest consideration of their special interest.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to designate Catthorpe, Leicestershire, as a conservation area.

None. Under Section 277 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 it is the responsibility of the local planning authority to determine which parts of its area are of special architectural or historic interest with a character or appearance which should be preserved or enhanced, and to designate such areas as conservation areas.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what study he has made of the conditions under which British coach operators are working in Belgium and Germany; and what efforts he has made to secure an improvement.

British coach operators working in Belgium and Germany are exempted from vehicle excise duties but are liable for the transport tax levied on all foreign vehicles. I am inquiring whether both countries would now be willing to waive these taxes and will let the hon. Member know the outcome.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what answers he has had from local authorities to the consultative document he circulated which proposed the inclusion of the conservation of fuel as a purpose for which new Building Regulations could be made; and if he will make a statement.

The local authority associations in England and Wales were in general agreement with the proposal to enable Building Regulations to include thermal insulation requirements in the interest of fuel economy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what study he has made of the report by the National Radiological Protection Board, Didcot/Harwell, Report on the dumping of radioactive material into the sea; and what is his policy towards its conclusions.

I have carefully studied the National Radiological Protection Board Report on the Deep Ocean Disposal of Radioactive Waste (NRPB— R14). I am now awaiting the report of the International Atomic Energy Agency as required under Article IV of the London Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter. This required the agency to define high-level radioactive wastes or other high-level radioactive matter as unsuitable for dumping at sea and to recommend criteria for the issue of permits for the dumping of other radioactive wastes or matter at sea. The agency appointed an international panel of experts to make recomendations on these matters and the panel made use of a paper prepared by a specialist group convened by the Nuclear Energy Agency of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and based closely on the NRPB report. Both of these reports will be taken fully into account in deciding future United Kingdom practice for the dumping of radioactive waste into the sea.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the total capital expenditure on new housing made by the Doncaster Rural District Council during the year 1972–73;

(2) what was the total capital expenditure on new housing made by the Bentley-with-Arksey UDC during the year 1972–73;

(3) what was the total capital expenditure on new housing made by the Adwick-le-Street UDC during the year 1972–73;

(4) what was the total capital expenditure on all projects made by the Tickhill UDC during the year 1972–73;

(5) what was the total capital expenditure on all projects made by the Doncaster RDC during the year 1972–73;

(6) what was the total capital expenditure on all projects made by the Bentley-with-Arksey UDC during the year 1972–73;

(7) what was the total capital expenditure on all projects made by the Adwick-le-Street UDC during the year 1972–73.

The hon. Member should seek this information from the local authority concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to encourage the building industry's resources on the urgent need for housing in the large cities.

I encourage the building industry to devote as much of its resources to housing as it can. The re-phasing of the public sector building programmes, announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 8th October, should ease the recent overloading on parts of the industry. Because of the need for more houses, housing has been excluded from this rephasing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will reconsider the cost yardstick to make sure that it does not discriminate against the production of one-person dwellings suitable for the aged.

The present flexible yardstick arrangements are enabling local authority housing schemes, including those specifically designed for the elderly, to go ahead at costs which reflect local market conditions. The operation of the yardstick is kept under continuous review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many accidents involving motorists, the cause of which is obscured vision on roads as a result of corn-stubble burning, have occurred in the last convenient period; and if he will make a statement.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied that in the case of new buildings the requirements contained in Building Regulations are sufficiently comprehensive to exclude the use of unsatisfactory materials, and that in the case of some older buildings the main legislation that applies is the Public Health Act 1936, and that holiday camps have to be dealt with by fire brigades under the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act.

The Building Regulations made under the Public Health Acts 1936 and 1961 require that any materials used in the erection of a building or in the structural alteration or extension of a building shall be of a suitable nature and quality in relation to the purposes for which they are used. In the context of structural fire precautions, Part E of the regulations contains further comprehensive requirements for such materials, mainly by reference to their performance under British Standard 476. These requirements will be reviewed in the light of the outcome of the Summerland Leisure Centre Commission of Inquiry.

The powers of control over existing buildings, including those at holiday camps, depend upon the purpose for which each is used. Local authorities have certain powers to control the means of ingress and egress from places of public resort and large restaurants and shops under Section 59 of the Public Health Act 1936, and fire certificates are required from fire authorities in respect of certain offices and shops under the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963. There are also controls under the several Acts that require the licensing of premises for various kinds of entertainment. The Fire Precautions Act 1971 is designed to ensure that the means of escape and fire precautions in a wide range of premises used by the public are adequate. The Act is being applied by stages, having first been applied to the majority of hotels and boarding houses.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authority houses and how many private houses were built in Warley in 1972; and what were the comparable figures for 1967.

The numbers of dwelling completions reported in 1967 and 1972 are shown in Table 5 of Local Housing Statistics, Nos. 5 and 25 respectively. Copies of these publications are in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of households in Warley entirely lack a water-closet; and how this compares with other metropolitan areas.

The 1971 Census recorded that 0.2 per cent. of households in Warley county borough had no WC. The corresponding figure for the West Midlands conurbation as a whole, for the Merseyside conurbation and for Greater London was 0.2 per cent. in each case. For the other English conurbations, the proportions were 0.1 per cent. in Tyne-side, 0.6 per cent. in West Yorkshire and 0.7 per cent. in South-East Lancashire. Details can be found in Table 25 of the county reports of the census.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the number

HOUSE IMPROVEMENT GRANTS FOR PRIVATE OWNERS AND HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS Warley CB Discretionary grants Standard grants Approved Approved Paid Number of dwelling Amount Number of dwelling Amount Number of dwelling Amount £ £ £ 1968 … … 14 2,996 401 .. 360 47,890 1969 … … 9 2,470 295 .. 324 46,486 1970 … … 82 30,969 326 .. 264 41,205 1971 … … 177 73,222 245 40,363 1972 … … 300 106,725 165 29,548

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is aware of the complaints being made about the emission of toxic chemicals in the Titford Road area of Warley; and if he will take action through the Alkali Inspectorate to deal with this matter.

Yes. I understand that recent complaints followed an emission of fumes caused by failure to close a valve while filling a tank. After consultations with the Alkali and Clean Air Inspectorate, the works management has been installing full automatic control on all such valves, together with an alarm system operative in the event of over-filling, and automatic cutoff.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he contemplates taking to preserve the twelfth-thirteenth century earth fort with its surrounding moat, popularly called The Mount, which is in danger from development at Cheswick Green.

In considering, for reasons unconnected with archaeology, an appeal against refusal of planning permission, my right hon. and learned Friend took the archaeological considerations and total value of housing improvement grants under his departmental schemes approved by the Warley County Borough Council for each of the last five years.

The information available about grants approved by Warley county borough is given below. As the amount of standard grants approved is not available for the years before 1971, the numbers and amounts of these grants paid in 1968 to 1970 are also shown.

fully into account. He did not, however, feel that the site, which has been recorded by excavation, was of sufficient archaeological interest to warrant refusal of planning permission for the development.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many staff appointments will be made to man the 15 archaeological centres which it is intended to set up throughout Great Britain;

(2) when the scheme to establish 15 regional archaeological centres through out Great Britain will be brought into operation;

(3) how much funding will be provided by his Department to run the 15 regional archaeological centres throughout Great Britain.

On 20th September I announced that after discussion with archaeological interests and the local authority associations my Department was working on proposals for new regional arrangements for rescue archaeology which envisage a number of units, grouped regionally, with common support facilities. I cannot yet enlarge on this as the detailed arrangements remain to be settled in consultation with the various interests involved.

I also announced that I am providing £813,000 for grants for rescue excavations this year, compared with £440,000 in 1972–73, and that I hope to increase this next year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the adaptation of the Orangery at Hampton Court and the installation of the Mantegna paintings will be completed.

Provided no unforeseen difficulties arise the work should be completed and the paintings installed early in 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he can now announce the expected opening date of the Ellesmere Port motorway.

Completion, from A5032 to A5117, is expected early in 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has received the results of the survey undertaken by the National Building Agency to identify the reasons for contractors' reluctance to tender for public sector housing work.

I expect to receive the report of this survey, which dealt with public sector housing contracts in London only, at any time now.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what use has been made of the powers under the Local Employment Act 1972 to assist investment in railway infrastructure on a regional development basis, and to provide investment in private sidings in development areas; and if he will make a statement.

Grant has been made to reconstruct a private rail link in Yorkshire. I am prepared to consider any other proposals which may be put to me under the terms of the Act.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of financing costs and inflation over and above the estimated cost of £120 million at 1973 prices for the rail link between the Channel Tunnel terminal and the White City.

On assumptions equivalent to those used in the tunnel studies future price increases coupled with interest charges incurred during construction may add £80 million to £100 million to the cost at current prices.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish particulars of the costings which have prompted his decision to reject the proposition from the hon. Member for Worcestershire, South to increase the minimum tread of all tyres in use on motor vehicles in the United Kingdom from 1 millimetre to 1.59 millimetres in consonance with the minimum tread in the United States of America; what technical considerations are inherent in his rejection of the proposition; and whether he will make a statement.

Very broad estimates suggest that the extra cost would be at least £10 million a year for no certain benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the progress of plans for the Beverley south-western bypass and the northern exit for the Humber Bridge.

Draft orders for a bypass route will be published as soon as possible. By the time the Humber Bridge is open a new route using A63/M62 to Ferrybridge and Al will be available for northbound traffic. A northern approach road to the Beverley bypass has been proposed by East Riding County Council. It will be for the new Humberside County Council to decide the priority for this.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take steps to ensure that the option mortgage subsidy is increased to take account of the recent changes in mortgage interest rates.

A draft statutory instrument providing for an appropriate extension of the option mortgage subsidy scale will be laid before Parliament shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review the application to close the Hastings—Ashford railway line in the light of his announcement in favour of the construction of a Channel Tunnel.

No. I have written to my hon. Friend to explain why.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why his Department could not give Messrs. B. W. Taylor (Developments) Limited a date for the hearing of its appeal against planning refusal on 12⅔ acres at the Ridgeway, Alton, until November 1973, when its appeal was lodged with his Department in August 1972.

The inquiry concerns also an appeal by the same appellants relating to adjoining land which was not made until 31st October 1972. The appellants have declined speedier appeal procedure by written representation instead of public inquiry. Because the appeals received in 1973 are at a rate approximately double the number received in 1971—which was 9,818—public inquiries upon them, when required, cannot be arranged as quickly as in previous years. On being offered a date in November 1973 for this inquiry the appellants have asked for an adjournment to January or February 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to standardise the distances between the arrows painted on the road surface and the distances between the last arrow and the double white lines, of which they are the warning to motorists, in view of the present haphazard conditions.

No. The arrows are related to traffic speed and road configuration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he proposes to take to control the transport of dangerous chemicals by road and rail; and if he is satisfied with the present regulations concerning action to be taken in accidents where such chemicals are involved.

The transport of certain classes of dangerous goods by road is already controlled by regulations made by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department. New regulations for other classes of dangerous goods are in prospect.

The carriage of dangerous goods by rail is controlled by byelaws or conditions of acceptance published by the British Railways Board.

Further measures to ensure correct action in an emergency are being studied by the Home Office Standing Advisory Committee on Dangerous Substances and by British Rail.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the costs of road accidents in 1972 including loss of life, medical treatment, loss of output, administrative costs, damage to property, &c. and how many persons were killed, and injured seriously, and otherwise.

About £550 million. 7,763 persons were killed and 91,338 seriously injured. 260,626 were slightly injured.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current waiting period for driving tests in the Manchester area.

25 weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many men and how many women took the driving test in the last 12 months up to the most recently convenient date.

Statistics are not kept in this form. In the year ended 30th September 1973, 772,913 driving tests were taken by men and 768,426 by women.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many driving instructors were available to carry out driving tests at the most recently available date.

1,044.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current waiting period for a driving test.

20 weeks (average).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many men and how many women failed their driving test in the last 12 months; and how many of those were under 21 years of age.

Statistics are not kept in this form. In the year ended 30th September 1973, 379,845 tests were failed by men and 449,386 by women.