asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many building and construction firms have gone bankrupt since 1st January 1972; and how many had capital assets below £5,000 and above £5,000, respectively.

Up to the end of June there were 1,483 bankruptcies and 788 liquidations. No analysis of assets is available but most bankruptcies involve assets of less than £5,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in advance of the implementation of his proposals for company law reform, he will take steps to improve the efficiency of the central companies registry.

Action to improve the staff problems and to obtain benefit from computerisation has already been taken. The move of the CRO to a new building with purpose-built file storage in Cardiff will enable us to overcome the considerable recruitment and office problem in London and provide, by means of Microfiche, a far better service in London than has been available in past years.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representation he has received about the importation of petroleum coke; and what effect the dumping of this oil residue at a cheap price has on the smokeless fuel industry of this country.

Producers of solid smokeless fuels in this country have suggested that imported petroleum coke is an unsuitable domestic fuel, while suppliers of the material, on the other hand, have represented that it should remain freely available. The current level of imports of petroleum coke amounts to about 3 per cent. of home production and consumption of manufactured domestic solid smokeless fuels.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he received the report of the Price Commission on electricity prices; and if he will make a statement.

I received the commission's report on 15th August. As I announced on 14th September, I decided to limit the maximum increase in electricity prices paid by consumers, apart from the effect of existing fuel adjustment clauses applicable only to certain non-domestic consumers, to 7½ per cent. Revised tariffs effective from 1st October were subsequently introduced by the area electricity boards. The overall weighted national average tariff increase was 4½ per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the latest orders received for Concorde and the prospects for further sales.

Nine firm orders have been placed for Concorde—five by British Airways and four by Air France. Iranair has signed a letter of intent to purchase two aircraft and expressed interest in a third and the Chinese national airline has signed a preliminary purchasing agreement for three aircraft. Discussions are continuing between the manufacturers and a number of other airlines.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, having regard to the order for five Concordes from British Airways, and in view of the assistance given to British Caledonian Airways by allocation of routes, etc., he will seek discussions with British Caledonian with regard to its considerations for placing orders for that aircraft.

No. 1 already have contact with the company from time to time about its future fleet requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what were the numbers of night jet take-offs from Heathrow Airport in the summer seasons of 1971, 1972 and 1973.

The numbers are: 1971, 1,638; 1972, 516; 1973, as at 22nd October, 261.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what orders have been made exempting goods sold by petrol companies from the provisions of the Resale Prices Act.

None. The only orders made by the Restrictive Practices Court granting exemption from the general prohibition of resale price maintenance relate to books and medicaments.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on meetings between his Department, the nationalised industries and various oil companies regarding energy supplies in the United Kingdom, in the light of the present situation in the Middle East.

We have been in close and continuous contact with the oil companies and others in the energy industries about the oil supply situation following the outbreak of the Middle East war.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and industry what steps he is now taking to deal with the onset of increasing energy shortages in 1974 and later.

The Government have taken a number of major policy decisions designed to safeguard energy supplies. I keep the prospects under constant review in the light of developments at home and abroad and will take further decisions as need arises.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on United Kingdom fuel requirements over the next five years and the composition of those requirements between the different fuels.

No. My Department keeps energy requirements under close review, but many factors influence supply and demand. In view of the uncertainties surrounding many of these influencing factors, I do not consider that it would be helpful at present to publish forecasts of requirements, either in total or allocated between the various fuels.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on the progress of the negotiations between his Department, the Institution of Heating and Ventilating Engineers and the Council of Engineering Institutions concerning the professional status of members of the institution.

I held a further meeting with the Council of Engineering Institutions on 16th October and it told me that it intended to submit to me shortly a scheme which could lead to a satisfactory solution of this problem.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he is talking about the shortage of newsprint in Great Britain.

I am in touch with the producers of newsprint and the newspaper publishers, but since the shortage of newsprint is worldwide and we are heavily dependent on imports the scope for action is limited. In the meantime I understand that the arrangements which have been made to help newspapers in difficulty are working satisfactorily.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many Government factories are empty in the Bothwell constituency.

There are six Department of Trade and Industry factories available in the six employment exchange areas into which the Bothwell constituency extends.

PERCENTAGE CHANGES IN PRICES OF MAJOR INDUSTRIAL MATERIALS IMPORTED INTO THE UNITED KINGDOM Past 27 months ( June 1971 to September 1973 ) Past 17 months ( April 1972 to September 1973 ) Past 6 months ( March 1973 to September 1973 ) Iron Ore … +8 +8 +8 Tungsten Ore … -20 +20 +2 Non-Ferrous Base Metals: Aluminium Ingots … -3 -3 +9 Nickel … +11 +21 -2 Copper … +78 +84 +31 Zinc … +68 +53 +26 Tin … +44 +38 +19 Lead … +66 +52 +22 Soya Beans … +110 +105 +51 Groundnut Oil … +20 +34 +19 Hides and Skins† … +81 +37 — Textile Fibres: Raw Cotton … +156 +147 +110 RawWool† … +247 +178 -16 Jute … -4 -8 -3 Timber: Softwood† … +120 +115 +55 Hardwood† … +108 +91 +35 Plywood† … +83 +70 +36 Natural Rubber† … +116 +144 +36 Woodpulp … +32 +40 +24 Crude Sulphur … +3 +15 -4 Crude Oil* … +23 +25 +10 Notes: * Unit value of imports; figures to August 1973 only. † Provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has yet found a tenant for the Government factory recently vacated by Ranco Motors Limited at Tannochside, Glasgow.

No, but we are continuing our efforts to find a suitable occupant.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will indicate in tabular form the percentage rise in the leading commodities over the past 27, 17 and six months.

I assume my hon. Friend is inquiring about prices. Changes in the prices of major imported industrial materials are provided in the following table. Statistics of imported food prices are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his present assessment of the trend of crude oil prices and the anticipated production from the United Kingdom North Sea in 1975 and for every succeeding year to 1980, together with an estimate of the annual accruals to the balance of payments.

In view of recent events I cannot at present assess the trend of crude oil prices in 1975 through to 1980. Although there have been unforeseen technical problems and delays in the installation of production facilities, every effort is being made to overcome them and I still expect production from the United Kingdom sector of the North Sea to be 70 million to 100 million tons. I cannot accurately assess the timing of the build-up to this level. The contribution to the balance of payments, which will be very substantial, will depend in part on the level of crude oil prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in view of the sale by International Computers Limited of a computer to South Africa for the purpose of keeping pass system records, he will make it his policy that such sales in future should be subject to Government permission.

No. There is no international agreement to control computer sales to South Africa and there are, therefore, no restrictions on companies, including ICL's British and foreign competitors, selling computer equipment to South Africa.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has studied the report of the public hearings held in the United States of America in 1972 into the safety of American light water reactors and if he will have a copy of that report, together with the evidence, placed in the Library before any decision is made to purchase American light water reactors for use in the United Kingdom.

I am aware of a number of public hearings in the USA on safety aspects of LWR's. The hon. Member will be aware that reports of these hearings may include details of a technically complex nature and in addition may run to several volumes. If the hon. Member will advise me of the report he has in mind I shall endeavour to make it available if it is suitable for inclusion in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what he estimates to be the current market value of the assets of the 25 largest manufacturing companies in the United Kingdom as listed in The Times tabulation of leading British firms, State corporations excluded.

The current market value of assets is not available. The estimated market value on 17th October of the ordinary shares of the 25 largest quoted manufacturing companies as listed in the "Times 1000" was about £12,000 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what he estimates to be the current market value of North Sea assets of companies engaged in exploration for or the development of oil and natural gas on the Continental Shelf other than those held by the British Gas Corporation and the National Coal Board.

Information in the form requested is not available. Total expenditure on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf up to the end of 1973 is estimated by the operators to be just over £1,000 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what he estimates to be the current market value of mineral wealth below ground and within territorial waters in the United Kingdom at present vested in the private sector.

All minerals within territorial waters are publicly owned. Land-based production of privately-owned minerals in 1972 was valued at £336 million. The full extent of such mineral deposits is not known; no meaningful estimate of therefore be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what he estimates to be the current market value of the assets of the shipbuilding, ship-repairing and marine engineering industries in the United Kingdom.

The estimated market value on 17th October of the ordinary shares of the quoted shipbuilding, ship-repairing and marine engineering companies was about £46 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many companies failed to report their profits to the Price Commission in accordance with Government policy within 42 days of the half year.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member on Friday.—[Vol. 861, c. 352. ]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will take steps to promote employment in the city of Leicester in those traditional industries with which the city is associated and in which its citizens are skilled.

There are more registered vacancies than people unemployed in Leicester and I see no need for special measures.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will state how many Scottish shipyards capable of building supply ships for the North Sea oil industry have tendered for new ships this year, and how many have been successful.

Apart from companies in which the Government have a direct financial interest, my Department does not receive details of shipbuilder's tenders. We do know, however, that this year one Scottish shipbuilder has received an order for two supply vessels.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he now expects to receive the report of the Working Party of the Noise Advisory Council on Minimum Noise Routes.

I understand that the report is still expected to be presented early in 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of aircraft using Heathrow in 1972 operated on below 50 per cent. capacity.

My Department does not have this information. Nor, I understand, could the Civil Aviation Authority or British Airports Authority provide it without disproportionate effort.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new jobs have been created as the result of Common Market investment in the United Kingdom since 1st January 1973; how many inquiries have led to firm projects and how many jobs those firm projects will create; in which assisted areas they will be; and whether and, if so, what grants they have or will receive from the British Government.

My Department has received over 100 inquiries from firms in other EEC countries. For the rest, I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to his earlier Question today.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many men were employed by the National Coal Board at the latest available date.

The number of wage earners on colliery books at National Coal Board mines on 6th October 1973 was 251,328.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many complaints and representations have been received in the last six months concerning unsatisfactory package holidays; and if he is prepared to consider strengthening the Trade Descriptions Act to protect the holiday consumer.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave today to my hon. Friend the Member for Billericay (Mr. McCrindle). I intend, with the help of the Director General of Fair Trading, to review the scope of the protection given to holiday consumers by the Trade Descriptions Act 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what notification he has received about an agreement between the three main sugar refining companies; and if he will refer this agreement to the Monopolies Commission.

I have been kept informed of the progress of the discussions about the sugar industry, but I understand that no final conclusions have yet been reached. The question of reference of an agreement to the Monopolies Commission does not therefore arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to receive the report of the inspectors appointed by him to investigate the affairs of First Re-investment Trust Limited and Nelson Financial Trust Limited.

It is too early to forecast the date of the receipt of the inspectors' report, but their inquiries are progressing satisfactorily.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will give a general direction to the Post Office to arrange a special postage rate for greeting cards during the period from 1st December until 21st December 1973.

No. This is now a matter for the managerial judgment of the Post Office.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what is his latest estimate of the revenue forgone by the Giro as a result of restrictions on Giro tariff increases, including those tariff increases identified as preconditions for Giro's continued existence, consequent upon the Government's counter-inflation legislation.

No precise figures can be given, but the amount must be small.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what overseas borrowing by the Post Office Corporation he has approved up to date.

After consultation with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer I have approved five borrowings, each of 100 million United States dollars.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will make a grant of £11.1 million to the Post Office in respect of the actuarial deficit on the payment made by the Treasury to the Post Office in respect of the pension liabilities taken over when the Post Office Corporation was set up.

As stated in the Post Office Report and Accounts for 1972–73, an approximate actuarial assessment has indicated a deficiency in part of the Post Office Superannuation Fund. A final report by the fund's actuary is expected in December or January. This will need to be considered by the trustees of the fund and by the Post Office. Decisions can then be taken about how to deal with the deficiency.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to be able to announce his decision in the matter of the traffic lights at the Northop crossroads on the A55 which has been referred to his Department.

I have decided to install traffic lights at this junction and my agent authority has been asked to design a suitable scheme.

Scheme Original Estimated Date of Completion* Current Estimated Date of Completion A465 Abergavenny Bypass … … December 1974 December 1974 A465 Glynneath Bypass … … December 1973 April 1974 A465 Aberdulais-Llandarcy … … November 1973 August 1974 A470 Nantgarw-Glyntaff … … December 1972 November 1973 A470 Glyntaff-Abercynon … … December 1973 November 1973 A483 Wrexham Bypass … … April 1974 December 1973 A470 Doldowlod Improvement … … March 1974 March 1974 A5 Wilsons Tyre Depot-The Lookout, Bangor … … October 1973 December 1973 A40 Abbey Mead-Carmarthen … … May 1974 May 1974 A48 Rhydsarnau Bridge … … May 1974 May 1974 A55 East of Northop Crossroads to East of Gables … March 1974 December 1973 A470 Waterloo Bridge to Rhyd-y-Creua … … January 1974 January 1974 A487 Pont Dolbenmaen … … July 1974 July 1974 A477 Nash-Milton House … … January 1975 January 1975 A487 Vaynol Junction, Port Dinorwic … … July 1974 July 1974 * The dates given here are the completion dates estimated when work started.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many house improvement grants have been paid to householders since the introduction of the House Improvement Act 1971; and what proportion this is of the total number of grants approved.

Since the introduction of the Housing Act 1971, 28,417 house improvement grants have been paid to householders in Wales. During the same period 43,369 were approved, but the figures are not directly comparable because of the time lag between approvals and payments.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish, for each local authority in Wales, the number and amount of improvement grants paid out in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Figures for actual payments by each local authority in Wales are not readily available. The number

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will list the trunk road schemes at present under construction, with the original estimated date of completion for each scheme and the current estimated date of completion.

The following information relates to trunk road schemes each costing over £100,000.

Information relating to trunk road schemes costing under £100,000 is not readily available.

of dwellings for which improvement grants were approved in each local authority area in Wales for the years 1970, 1971 and 1972 is given in issues 18, 22 and 26 of Local Housing Statistics, copies of which are available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to make a statement about the recommendations of the feasibility study carried out by consultants appointed by him in respect of the track and verges of the former railway line in and in the vicinity of Llangollen, Denbighshire.

I intend to seek the views of the public on the more viable routes for trunk road traffic in the Llangollen area early next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to be able to make a definitive statement on the route of the Llanrwst bypass.

I cannot yet give a date but I am aware of the need for an early decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will name the members of the rent scrutiny boards in Wales and indicate their qualifications.

The names are as follows:

Legal Members R. W. Davies. N. H. L1 George. I. I. C. Goldstone. S. K. Jonathan. D. Morris. J. G. Roberts.

Professional Members J. F. W. Baines, FRICS, FRVA. T. E. Billing, FRICS. G. W. Bowen, FRICS. A. I. M. Clark, FRICS. T. C. Daulby, FRICS. D. R. Davies, ARICS, ARVA. H. R. Davies, FRICS. L. W. Davies, FRICS. W. T. Davies, FRICS, FRVA. A. A. Day, FRICS. G. F. East, FRICS. E. M. Edmunds, ARICS. L. J. Edwards, FRICS. M. R. Ellis. B. T. Evans, FRICS. J. D. Giddins, FMCS, FSVA, FRVA. R. B. Griffiths, ARICS. J. L. Harpur, FRISV. A. D. Hill, FRICS, MIRA, AIARB. T. James, FRICS. H. Jenkins, FMCS, FRVA. H. John, FRICS, FRVA. R. Johnson, FRICS. W. O. P. Jones, FRICS. A. H. W. Lewis, FRICS. J. Lewis, FRICS. J. Lingard, ARICS. J. G. Lloyd, FRICS, FLAS. E. J. Murphy, FRICS. P. E. Owen, ARICS. D. B. Phillips, FRICS, FRVA. W. M. Pipe, ARICS. R. Ponfret, FRICS. J. A. W. Protheroe, FRICS. J. E. H. Rees, FRICS. C. R. Sacre, FRICS. W. H. Sage, FRICS. L. A. Terrell, ARICS. G. B. Travis, FRICS. H. Tudor, AIVA. D. Turner, FRICS. N. Tyler, FRICS. A. R. Wilkinson, TD, FRICS. W. W. Young, FRVA.

Lay Members Mrs. J. Aitken. D. E. Aubrey. Mrs. D. Barstow. 370 J. I. Bowles. L. J. Carter, FAPHI. R. M. Carter. J. F. Clement. G. T. Davies. K. B. Davies. R. I. Davies. T. Ellis-Jones. J. Esmor-Thomas. Miss A. Evans. D. S. Goodwin. Mrs. K. M. Hansford. Mrs. H. Harry. Mrs. M. E Hewit. D. B. Jenkins. N. Jenkins. N. Jerman. W. E. John. T. R. Jones. J. I. Jones. B E. Laugharne. J. Lennox. A. Lewis. Major P. Lewis. E. MacDonald. D. Miles. G. A. Morgan, FRSH, FAPHI. J. L. Palmer. W. B. Penhale. W. N. Preston. C. Prothero. Mrs. D. E. H. Roberts. Mrs. M. A. Roberts. O. M. Roberts. G. Thomas. J. L. Thomas, FINTA, ACIS. E. E. Tompkins. E. H. Trippe. J. W. R. Walters. A. J. West. Mrs. M. B. Whitehouse.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to hold a public inquiry into the proposed new line of the bypass of the A5 road at LlanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllLlantysiliogogogoch.

The need for a Public Inquiry will depend on public reaction to my draft proposals for the line of the road which will be published soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the reasons for the delay in proceeding with the erection of a health centre at the Old Park School site, Holyhead; and if he will make a statement.

In the absence of a tender within the approved building cost limit despite re-advertising, the county council has decided not to proceed further. If a scheme is put forward again later I will certainly consider its inclusion in the building programme at that time.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that Table 50 of the Digest of Welsh Statistics No. 19 1972–73 published in September 1973 shows that 213 and 192 persons were put to death in Wales and Monmouthshire in the years 1971 and 1972, respectively; and whether he will make a statement.

I regret that Table 50 of the Digest of Welsh Statistics was issued with certain figures for 1971 and 1972 misplaced due to a printing error. The corrected figures are: 1971 1972 TABLE 50 Line 8— Theft 53,059 35,482 Lines 21–24— Supervision 1,057 1,124 Care 311 347 Otherwise dealt with 431 495 Lines 33–36— Supervision 11 11 Care 6 5 Death — — Otherwise dealt with 213 192

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will now seek to discontinue the practice) created by the Housing Finance Act, whereby certain council house tenants in Wales are forced to pay lodger charges despite the fact that these council house tenants no longer have lodgers residing in their homes.

I am satisfied that local authorities have sufficient discretion to deal with any anomalies caused by their failure to abolish such charges before the Act came into force.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what Government grant was given to assist with the construction of the National Sports Centre in Cardiff; and what is the arrangement for annual assistance in running it.

A total grant of £684,000 was made by the Government to cover the cost of construction and subsequent extension of the National Sports Centre for Wales. The centre is administered by the Sports Council for Wales and the running costs are met by the body from its annual grant-in-aid.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the action he has taken, and proposes to take, to prevent discrimination against the users of the National Sports Centre in Cardiff on the grounds of either the colour or type of their clothing.

The rules governing the day-to-day use of the National Sports Centre are a matter for the Sports Council for Wales. From the inquiries I have made, however, I understand that it is the policy of the council that people using the centre should wear clothing appropriate to the activity in which they participate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of banking assets in Great Britain he estimates are now owned by conglomerates.

Most banking assets in Great Britain are controlled by companies mainly engaged in banking and similar financial services.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is satisfied with the present pattern of investment flows between the United Kingdom and the EEC.

Both inward and outward investments bring benefits to the United Kingdom and we are anxious to encourage such flows, in particular with the EEC.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing central Government expenditure as a percentage of the gross domestic product for the past 10 years.

Percentages based on three definitions of central Government expenditure are tabulated below: (1) (2) (3) 1963 13.4 27.6 33.2 1954 13.2 26.8 33.5 1965 13.4 27.6 35.5 1966 13.5 27.8 36.7 1967 14.1 30.1 39.9 1968 14.0 31.5 41.6 1969 13.7 31.2 40.8 1970 14.0 31.0 40.9 1971 14.1 30.7 41.0 1972 14.1 31.6 41.9

In all three cases the percentages are of gross domestic product at factor cost, and are based on figures from National Income and Expenditure 1973.

Column (1): Represents that part of central Government expenditure which directly contributes to GDP (central Government consumption and investment).

Column (2): Column (1) plus transfer payments and loans to the private sector and overseas. The transfer payments include grants, subsidies and payments of debt interest. This definition can be regarded as the central Government's contribution to total public expenditure (including transfer payments and loans).

Column (3): Column (2) plus transfer payments and loans from central Government to other parts of the public sector (local authorities and public corporations). This definition represents the total current and capital expenditure of the central Government.

The transfer payments and loans included in Columns (2) and (3) do not represent the direct pre-emption of resources by the central Government and therefore do not contribute directly to GDP. They imply final expenditure by the private sector, and are only included as such in GDP.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much weekly income remains at present to a family with two children under 11 years of age where the father earns the national average industrial wage, after deductions for direct taxation and social security contributions have been made, and allowing for indirect taxation.

£29.98; this is on the basis of average earnings of £35.82 per week, and takes account of payment of income tax and of social security contributions at non-contracted out rates and of receipt of family allowances. The information required to make proper allowance for the incidence of indirect taxation is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much weekly income would remain to a family with two children under 11 years of age where the father earns the national average industrial wage, after deductions for direct taxation and social security contributions had been made, and allowing for indirect taxation, if direct and indirect taxation were at the level existing in June 1970.

£28.26, on the same basis as that used in the reply to my hon. Friend's previous Question. It should be noted that had 1970 tax rates remained in force, pre-tax earnings might not be at their present levels.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much weekly income would remain to a family with two children under 11 years of age where the father earns the national average industrial wage, after deductions for direct taxation and social security contributions had been made, and allowing for indirect taxation if an additional 10p in the pound were placed on basic rate income tax.

£28.45, on the same basis as that used in the replies to my hon. Friend's two previous Questions. Pre-tax earnings might be different if the basic rate of income tax were other than at its present level.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total debt incurred by the public sector in foreign currency loans since March 1973.

Foreign currency borrowing by nationalised industries and local authorities between 1st March 1973 and 30th September 1973 amounted to US $1,770 million and Swiss francs 125 million—that is, some £750 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will require the Inland Revenue to stop applying the term "single" person to those who have been married.

So much depends on the circumstances in which the term is used that I do not think it would be appropriate to issue any general direction of this kind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he issues instructions to value added tax inspectors that they should insist on seeing a trader's books on his premises even where such books are completed by an accountant recognised by the Department of Trade and Industry and when such books are made readily available at the accountant's premises; and if he will make a statement.

Value added tax control requires visits by officers to traders' premises and officers are, therefore, instructed normally to require records to be produced at those premises.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will issue instructions to value added tax inspectors asking them to give adequate notice when they propose to visit the offices of a trader or his accountant.

Officers are instructed that visits should normally be made by prior appointment. Adequate notice should, therefore, generally be given.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates to be the current market value of the assets of State corporations hived off by the Government since June 1970.

The total sale price of substantial holdings in companies or major works disposed of by nationalised industries since June 1970 is about £41,500,000. I regret that it is not possible to give an estimate of current market values.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what have been the annual percentage increases in productivity in British industry for each year since 1960, and what have been the comparable annual percentage increases in productivity over this period in the United States, Japan and EEC countries.

The following table shows percentage increases in United Kingdom output at constant prices per person employed in all industries covered by the index of industrial production, together with the available comparable increases for the United States, Japan and the other countries of the European Economic Community.

The United Kingdom measure of output is the index of industrial production. Persons employed include employees, employers and self-employed persons; full-time and part-time workers are counted as full units. Indices of output per person employed for other countries arc taken from the 1972 and earlier editions of the "Yearbook of Labour Statistics" published by the International Labour Office.

OUTPUT PER PERSON EMPLOYED IN ALL PRODUCTION INDUSTRIES Percentage increase on previous year United Kingdom Belgium France* German Federal Republic† Ireland† Italy Netherlands United States‡ Japan 1961 … … -0.1 5 5 3 4 7 2 2 11 1962 … … 1.2 7 6 3 2 8 3 7 3 1963 … … 4.0 5 6 4 3 5 5 4 10 1964 … … 6.9 7 5 8 6 2 9 5 12 1965 … … 1.8 3 7 4 4 8 5 6 4 1966 … … 1.9 7 7 2 3 10 6 1 13 1967 … … 4.0 5 6 4 7 7 8 -1 16 1968 … … 7.6 7 11 12 7 8 14 5 15 1969 … … 2.7 8 5 8 2 5 11 2 15 1970 … … 1.6 3 6 2 6 5 10 0 14 1971 … … 3.8 — 6 3 6 -1 8 3 — 1972 … … 4.3 — — — — — — — — * Output per man-hour. † Excludes gas, electricity and water industries. ‡ Manufacturing industry only.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total number of persons successfully prosecuted for evasion of tax each year since 1950; what was the breakdown each year according to the tax at which evasion was directed, and what was the average size each year of tax payment which it was proved the convicted persons had sought to evade; and what was the average penalty imposed for each of these years.

The numbers of persons prosecuted and convicted for offences relating to evasion of tax for each year ended 31st March since 1950 are as follows: 1950–51 32 1951–52 37 1952–53 43 1953–54 64 1954–55 61 1955–56 55 1956–57 53 1957–58 63 1958–59 72 1959–60 76 1960–61 100 1961–62 109 1962–63 87 1963–64 128 1964–65 107 1965–66 107 1966–67 116 1967–68 78 1968–69 94 1969–70 150 1970–71 167 1971–72 146

Evasion was directed mainly at income tax, surtax and estate duty.

The information requested about the average amount of tax each year which the convicted persons had sought to evade is not available.

The sentences imposed ranged from imprisonment and fines to conditional and absolute discharges.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will specify the number of cases of tax evasion detected in 1972, how many were prosecuted, and what was the average penalty and the range of penalties imposed.

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 19th October 1973; Vol. 861, c. 335 ], gave the following information:

Such information as is available is given in Tables 25 and 26 of the 115th Report of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue (Cmnd. 5168).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give his estimates of the size of, respectively, the sterling inter-bank, local authorities, finance houses, certificate of deposit, and inter-company money markets for each year since 1955; and if he will give similar annual estimates for the size of the Eurocurrency markets from the same date.

I will let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the level of net invisible earnings for each year since 1945; what has been the value of these net earnings for each of these years at 1960 prices; and in each year what was the percentage of these net earnings earned by foreign banks in London and of these what proportion were American.

"United Kingdom Balance of Payments 1973", Table 1, shows the level of net invisible earnings for the years 1951 to 1972. Figures for the years 1946 to 1950 were published on page 87 of "United Kingdom Balance of Payments 1971". There are no comparable figures available for 1945. The value of net invisible earnings has not been estimated at constant prices.

Because of inter-bank transactions it is not possible to distinguish the contribution to net invisible earnings of particular groups of banks in the United Kingdom. The estimated earnings from overseas transactions of all banks in the United Kingdom expressed as a proportion of total net invisible earnings are as follows: Per cent. 1965 17 1966 14 1967 12 1968 18 1969 20 1970 18 1971 13 1972 14

Estimates are not available for earlier years.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been, in the case of the United Kingdom, United States of America, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Sweden, the level of Government expenditure abroad in both sterling money terms at the appropriate exchange rate and as a percentage of gross national product for each year since 1945; and what has been the net balance of payments surplus or deficit for each of these years in each of these countries.

Data for overseas countries, which are derived from information published by OECD and IMF, are available

TABLE A GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE ABROAD £ million Year UK USA France* Germany Italy Japan Sweden† 1952 … … 217 1,590 25 10 22 2 4 1953 … … 218 1,756 24 31 27 3 2 1954 … … 231 1,687 25 59 18 4 2 1955 … … 244 1,845 29 81 20 13 2 1956 … … 264 1,838 34 101 24 13 3 1957 … … 253 1,899 34 152 24 32 3 1958 … … 281 1,991 67 186 25 93 3 1959 … … 270 1,888 97 291 32 32 3 1960 … … 327 1,883 105 289 40 36 3 1961 … … 378 1,955 118 361 38 44 6 1962 … … 399 2,022 117 399 41 40 10 1963 … … 422 2,002 89 367 47 40 13 1964 … … 477 1,997 100 344 56 41 17 1965 … … 493 2,028 109 398 70 51 19 1966 … … 512 2,388 124 373 78 62 24 1967 … … 499 2,658 407 429 101 79 25 1968 … … 510 3,087 448 648 161 87 35 1969 … … 515 3,177 448 750 155 88 50 1970 … … 537 3,244 453 788 265 108 48 * Comparability is affected by changes in presentation in 1963 and in 1967. † Comparability is affected by changes in presentation in 1962 and 1966.

TABLE B GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE ABROAD EXPRESSED AS PERCENTAGE OF GNP Percentages Year UK USA France Germany Italy Japan Sweden 1952 … … 1.5 1.3 0.2 0.1 0.3 .. 0.1 1953 … … 1.4 1.3 0.2 0.3 0.4 .. 0.1 1954 … … 1.4 1.3 0.2 0.4 0.2 0.1 0.1 1955 … … 1.4 1.3 0.2 0.5 0.2 0.2 0.1 1956 … … 1.4 1.2 0.2 0.6 0.3 0.1 0.1 1957 … … 1.3 1.2 0.2 0.8 0.2 0.3 0.1 1958 … … 1.4 1.2 0.3 0.9 0.2 0.8 0.1 1959 … … 1.3 1.1 0.5 1.4 0.3 0.3 0.1 1960 … … 1.4 1.0 0.5 1.1 0.3 0.2 0.1 1961 … … 1.5 1.0 0.5 1.2 0.3 0.2 0.1 1962 … … 1.6 1.0 0.4 1.2 0.3 0.2 0.2 1963 … … 1.5 0.9 0.3 1.1 0.2 0.2 0.2 1964 … … 1.6 0.9 0.3 0.9 0.3 0.1 0.3 1965 … … 1.6 0.8 0.3 1.0 0.3 0.2 0.3 1966 … … 1.5 0.9 0.3 0.9 0.3 0.2 0.3 1967 … … 1.4 0.9 1.0 1.0 0.4 0.2 0.3 1968 … … 1.4 0.8 0.9 1.2 0.5 0.1 0.4 1969 … … 1.3 0.8 0.8 1.2 0.4 0.1 0.5 1970 … … 1.2 0.8 0.7 1.0 0.7 0.1 0.4 .. = less than 0.1.

for the years 1952 to 1970 only. The following tables give the information requested for these years. "Government expenditure abroad" is defined as the total of the debit entries under the headings "services" and "transfers". "Net balance of payments surplus or deficit" is taken as the balance of debit and credit entries under the headings "goods", "services" and "transfers", which broadly corresponds to the "current balance". Gross national product is at current market prices. Figures for overseas countries have been converted to sterling at the appropriate IMF parity rates.

Following are the tables:

TABLE C NET BALANCE OF PAYMENTS SURPLUS (+)/DEFICIT (-) £ million Year UK USA France Germany Italy Japan Sweden 1952 … … +163 +226 -123 +249 -126 +80 +13 1953 … … +145 -484 +42 +364 -76 -73 +24 1954 … … +117 +42 +247 +320 -21 -18 -11 1955 … … -155 +125 +338 +185 -26 +80 -29 1956 … … +208 +842 -263 +393 -33 -12 -11 1957 … … +233 +1,692 -47 +518 +12 -221 -9 1958 … … +344 +235 -62 +533 +201 +94 -20 1959 … … +152 -512 +254 +367 +270 +129 -2 1960 … … -255 +1,008 +205 +401 +113 +51 -30 1961 … … +6 +1,389 +358 +261 +181 -351 +17 1962 … … +122 +1,190 +284 -191 +100 -17 +4 1963 … … +124 +1,526 +154 +81 -255 -278 +3 1964 … … -382 +2,403 -36 +14 +224 -171 +4 1965 … … -49 +1,874 +272 -582 +790 +332 -91 1966 … … +84 +1,361 +61 +6 +760 +448 -57 1967 … … -316 +1,199 +57 +858 +581 -69 -16 1968 … … -284 +542 -454 +1,136 +1,095 +437 -45 1969 … … +445 +531 -758 +671 +975 +883 -87 1970 … … +692 +1,196 -63 +305 +318 +821 -127

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the annual level of borrowing by each nationalised industry since the date of its nationalisation in order to finance, respectively, net investment and the replacement of existing capital equipment, and in each case what has been the annual level of interest payments on these borrowings and to whom have they accrued.

I will let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is proposed that Great Britain's contribution to a European Regional Fund should be on the same percentage basis as for the Community budget, progressively rising over the transitional period; and if he will make a statement.

We expect the fund to be financed from the Community budget, to which United Kingdom contributions during the transitional period will be as determined under the accession arrangements.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what evidence he has regarding the prevalence of transfer pricing by international companies and in view of the Monopolies Commission's revelations regarding the pricing structures of Roche Products, and what plans he has to survey the comparable activities of other similar companies.

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 19th October 1973; Vol. 861, c. 336 ], gave the following information:

The transfer prices used in transactions involving United Kingdom resident companies belonging to international groups and their non-resident associates can be, and in appropriate cases are, challenged under tax and exchange legislation. I cannot of course make any statement about the application of the law to particular companies.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates has been, respectively, the level of purchase of goods and services and the level of borrowing by central and local government from the private sector for each year since 1945.

, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 19th October 1973; Vol. 861, c. 336 ], gave the following information:

As far as is possible from readily available information, the figures requested are tabulated below for combined public authorities—central and local government. Information is not available for the first few years since 1945.

Column (A) relates to the component "other payments" of total current expenditure on goods and services at current prices, as given in Table 44 of National Income and Expenditure 1973. Thus expenditure on wages and salaries, certain other wage costs and imputed rents are not included. The figures provided relate to purchases of goods and services from all sectors; estimates of the proportion of these purchases made from the United Kingdom private sector are not regularly compiled, but in the financial year 1968–69 this proportion was just over 80 per cent.

Column (B) relates to total gross domestic fixed capital formation at current prices less expenditure on wages

COMBINED PUBLIC AUTHORITIES £ million Current expenditure on goods and services: "other payments" Expenditure on capital formation excluding wages and salaries Total ( A ) plus ( B ) Borrowing from the private sector ( A ) ( B ) ( C ) ( D ) 1952 … N.A. N.A. N.A. 858 1953 … 1,539 802 2,341 760 1954 … 1,513 735 2,248 448 1955 … 1,474 730 2,204 399 1956 … 1,553 761 2,314 447 1957 … 1,573 787 2,360 590 1958 … 1,534 760 2,294 853 1959 … 1,644 802 2,446 548 1960 … 1,716 821 2,537 825 1961 … 1,873 880 2,753 690 1962 … 1,999 991 2,990 898 1963 … 2,037 1,063 3,100 701 1964 … 2,121 1,344 3,465 340 1965 … 2,325 1,430 3,755 1,071 1966 … 2,475 1,617 4,092 518 1967 … 2,749 1,889 4,638 1,340 1968 … 2,839 2,095 4,934 237 1969 … 2,756 2,167 4,923 149 1970 … 2,941 2,374 5,315 1,254 1971 … 3,296 2,488 5,784 4,015 1972 … 3,747 2,760 6,507 319 Sources: National Income and Expenditure 1973, Tables 38, 42 and 44. Financial Statistics (e.g. Tables 18 and 29 in September 1973 issue). Bank of England Historical Abstract, 1970.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what have been the interest payments, mainly from compensation, paid to, respectively, the Treasury and to private interests by nationalised industries for each year since 1946.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 19th October 1973; Vol. 861, c. 336 ], gave the following information:

and salaries. It is thought that a very high proportion of this expenditure relates to purchases from the private sector.

Column (C) shows the total of goods and services purchased by public authorities from all other sectors. If the proportion of purchases from the private sector in (B) were to be 95 per cent. in 1968–69, the proportion for (A) and (B) combined in that year would be just under 90 per cent.

Column (D) represents the contribution to the public sector borrowing requirement of combined public authority borrowing from the United Kingdom private sector. Estimates given for years before 1963 are less firmly based than for subsequent years.

The table below provides estimates of the interest payable by nationalised industries on capital liabilities relating to the non-Government-owned assets vested in them on nationalisation. Separate figures are shown for interest payable on liabilities to central Government, interest on compensation stock issued, and other payments of interest which are chiefly in respect of liabilities to local authorities. Part of the interest on compensation stock issued is thought to be paid to overseas or other holders in the public sector.

INTEREST PAYABLE ON LIABILITIES FOR VESTED ASSETS To central Government On compensation stock Other £million £million £million 1946 — — — 1947 14.8 — — 1948 15.1 40.8 6.3 1949 12.7 48.5 7.9 1950 14.0 51.1 7.7 1951 14.0 51.4 6.6 1952 13.2 51.6 5.3 1953 14.1 51.6 5.0 1954 13.5 51.7 4.7 1955 13.8 51.5 4.1 1956 13.1 51.5 3.1 1957 13.0 51.5 2.9 1958 13.0 51.5 2.7 1959 12.7 51.5 2.2 1960 12.5 51.5 1.9 1961 12.4 51.5 1.6 1962 12.3 51.5 1.3 1963 12.0 15.5 1.1 1964 12.0 15.5 0.9 1965 2.9 15.5 0.8 1966 — 15.5 0.6 1967 3.6 15.5 0.5 1968 8.7 15.5 0.5 1969 8.7 15.5 0.3 1970 8.7 15.5 0.3 1971 8.7 15.5 0.2 1972 8.7 15.5 0.2

Note:

The figures cover the following nationalised industries: The National Coal Board (from 1st January 1947 until its capital reconstruction on 31st March 1965); the Gas Council (from 1st May 1949); the British Electricity Authority and its successors (from 1st April 1948); the South of Scotland Electricity Board (from 1st April 1955); the British Transport Commission (from 1st January 1948 until its dissolution on 31st December 1962); the British Steel Corporation (from 28th July 1967).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what it would cost to grant double taxation relief on mortgage repayments where interest is in excess of 8 per cent. to first-time buyers, with incomes of less than £4,000 per annum, in respect of properties of up to £15,000 in value.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 16th October 1973; Vol. 861, c. 58], gave the following information:

The information on which to base an estimate is not available, but my right hon. Friend will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the level of gross domestic fixed capital formation as a percentage of gross national product for each year since 1960 in Great Britain, the United States, Japan, and each EEC country.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 19th October 1973; Vol. 861, c. 335 ], gave the following information:

The information is given in the following table:

GROSS DOMESTIC FIXED CAPITAL FORMATION AS A PERCENTAGE OF GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT AT MARKET PRICES United Kingdom Belgium Denmark France Germany Netherlands Ireland Italy Luxembourg Japan U.S.A. 1960 … … 16.3 18.9 19.4 20.2 24.0 23.4 13.7 22.0 22.1 30.2 16.8 1961 … … 17.1 20.1 20.6 21.5 25.3 23.9 15.5 22.7 25.0 33.3 16.2 1962 … … 16.7 20.8 20.8 21.8 26.0 23.8 17.0 23.2 27.6 33.7 16.5 1963 … … 16.4 20.4 19.8 22.2 25.8 23.3 18.1 23.5 32.1 32.2 16.6 1964 … … 17.9 21.9 21.9 23.8 27.0 24.8 18.7 21.7 35.8 32.5 16.8 1965 … … 18.0 21.8 21.5 24.4 26.6 24.4 19.9 18.8 29.7 30.6 17.2 1966 … … 18.0 22.4 21.5 24.9 25.7 25.6 18.9 18.3 28.3 30.8 17.1 1967 … … 18.5 22.3 22.1 25.1 23.1 25.6 19.1 19.0 25.1 32.1 16.5 1968 … … 18.7 20.9 20.9 24.8 23.1 26.1 19.7 19.7 23.1 33.5 16.6 1969 … … 18.3 20.7 21.6 25.0 24.2 23.9 22.4 20.5 23.5 34.8 16.8 1970 … … 18.3 22.4 22.0 25.6 26.4 25.0 21.4 21.1 26.1 35.1 16.1 1971 … … 18.0 21.6 21.4 25.6 26.7 25.0 22.7 19.9 30.4 34.7 16.7 1972 … … 18.2 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what he estimates have been the net post-tax profits, after depreciation allowances, accruing to private industry for each year since 1946 from respectively gross fixed capital formation and purchases of goods and services by nationalised industries;

(2) what he estimates has been the annual addition to rentier incomes and private profits directly due to the operation of the nationalised industries for each year since 1950; and what he estimates has been the direct subsidisation of the private sector due to selling nationalised industry products below the real cost of production.

No estimates can be made along the lines requested for private sector profits or for private investment incomes. In general, firms do not separate how much profit is attributable to a particular element of turnover such as sales to nationalised industries. Interest payments by public corporations are mostly to the central Government, and the effect on private investment incomes of public—rather than private—ownership of industry is mainly to change the composition, rather than the amount, of the income flow arising from private holdings of both public sector and private sector debt.

In order to answer the latter part of the hon. Gentleman's second Question, it would be necessary to define what is meant by the "real cost of production". As a broad indication, the table below shows for years since 1950 the amount of subsidies from the central Government to nationalised industries, and the net amount of debt written off. The larger part of the subsidies and write-offs has arisen from difficulties in specific sectors, for example, the level of demand for railway services, and not from products being sold below their cost of production.

NATIONALISED INDUSTRIES £ million Subsidies Write-off of debt ( net ) 1950 7 — 1951 4 — 1952 1 — 1953 2 — 1954 4 —

£ million Subsidies Write-off of debt ( net ) 1955 — — 1956 — — 1957 — — 1958 — — 1959 — — 1960 115 — 1961 137 — 1962 140 — 1963 135 432 1964 122 — 1965 138 525 1966 143 — 1967 174 — 1968 180 10 1969 124 1,258 1970 104 255 1971 94 — 1972 309 350

Notes:

1. Figures relate to the nationalised industries only and exclude other public corporations.

2. Subsidies are those specific to the nationalised industries only and exclude items, such as employment premiums and bus fuel grants, which are also available to the private sector.

3. The figures exclude the £42 million special Brant paid to British Rail in 1972–73 to cover their cash flow shortfall.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will have talks with industry designed to encourage the use of the River Thames in the carrying of heavy industrial goods.

No. Possible increased use of the river is already being discussed by the GLC and the PLA.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total area of land in Bedfordshire being worked for the extraction of sand and gravel, specifying the number of workings the total area of which exceeds 10 acres.

A consultation document on minerals issued in 1972 by Bedfordshire County Council indicated that up to the end of 1970 planning permission for the working of sand together with gravel had been granted for 2,024 acres, and that 697 acres were then unexploited. In addition, sand deposits permitted for extraction totalled 1,584 acres of which 761 acres remained unworked. Mineral production returns made to the Department show that at the end of 1971 there were in Bedfordshire six active workings for sand and gravel and 18 for sand only, but these returns do not indicate the number exceeding 10 acres.

A local authority working party on sand and gravel in the Middle Anglia Gravel Region is expected to report shortly and provide updated information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the size of sand and gravel reserves in Bedfordshire and the percentage thereof at present being worked.

Although geological maps indicate the lateral extent of sand and gravel deposits in Bedfordshire, insufficient information is at present available in relation to their thickness and quality to enable the size of reserves in the county to be reliably given. The mineral assessment unit of the Institute of Geological Sciences is engaged in assessing the extent of sand and gravel resources in the country but it will be some years before the work is completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will take steps to ensure that, provided a local authority has five years' land available for housing, green belt land in the area remains substantially undiminished;

(2) what conditions must be fulfilled before developers have access to green belt land for housing.

The main purpose of green belts is to contain urban sprawl and prevent towns merging together, and there is a general presumption against development of green belt land. This presumption has been reiterated in the new planning guidelines which have just been issued. Individual proposals for development need to be judged in the light of the circumstances of each case and in particular the extent to which the piece of land in question is contributing to the main purpose of the green belt.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he makes of the number of empty houses in each of the largest 20 cities in Great Britain, according to the latest information available, and what percentage of the total properties in each city these figures represent.

Information from the May 1971 Census is the latest available. However, these figures include houses in the process of being let, sold, converted or improved, or which are vacant because of coming redevelopment.

Vacant dwellings Thousands Percentage of all dwellings 1. Greater London 99.7 3.8 2. Birmingham CB 11.5 3.4 3. Glasgow City 15.7 5.1 4. Liverpool CB 6.3 3.2 5. Manchester CB 6.4 3.4 6. Sheffield CB 4.5 2.4 7. Leeds CB 5.5 3.1 8. Edinburgh City 6.7 4.0 9. Bristol CB 4.6 3.1 10. Teesside CB 4.5 3.5 11. Coventry CB 2.6 2.3 12. Nottingham CB 4.0 3.7 13. Bradford CB 3.9 3.8 14. Kingston-upon-Hull CB 4.5 4.4 15. Leicester CB 2.7 2.9 16. Cardiff CB 2.4 2.6 17. Wolverhampton CB 2.5 2.7 18. Stoke-on-Trent CB 2.7 3.0 19. Plymouth CB 2.1 2.8 20. Newcastle-upon-Tyne 2.6 3.2

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT latest statistics covering the take-up rate for rent allowances under the Rent Allowance Act both by tenants of private furnished accommodation and by tenants of private unfurnished accommodation as a proportion of the estimated total number of tenants in each of these categories for each of the county boroughs and cities in England and Wales for which such figures are available; and whether he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a similar question from the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 18th October 1973. Information about individual authorities should be sought from the authorities concerned.—[Vol. 861, c. 293–4. ]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will indicate the nature of his investigation and the names of the persons interviewed as a result of the request from the hon. Member for Stirling and Falkirk Burghs for an inquiry into the appointment of the chairman and members of the board of the Forth Ports Authority; and if he will also list the names of those he consulted before making the appointment.

For the reasons indicated in my letter of 2nd October to the hon. Member, I do not consider that any inquiry is necessary. Before appointments were made both the National Ports Council—in accordance with the statutory requirement—and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland were consulted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the original estimate for the cost of the underground car park in New Palace Yard; and what is the latest estimate for its completion.

The House was informed on 13th June 1972 that the cost of the underground car park was about £2.2 million. The latest estimate, including landscaping on the lines proposed by the Services Committee, is a little under £2.4 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce amending legislation to enable the Land Compensation Act to deal with claims for home loss payments from people displaced before 17th October 1972.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance he has given the Hampshire County Council on the introduction of advisory routing for heavy lorries.

Circular (Roads) 68/72 "Advisory Link Roads for Goods Vehicles"—11th December 1972; Circular 57/73 "Lorries and the Environment"—8th May 1973; and Circular 128/73 "Heavy Lorries"—19th October 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the annual report of the Water Resources Board to be published.

I am informed by the Water Resources Board that its annual report for the year ending 30th September 1973 will be published early in 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many appeals from the decisions of planning authorities in Wiltshire were dealt with in 1970, 1971 and 1972; and in what percentage of appeals the appellants were successful.

65, 85 and 81 respectively of which 17 per cent., 9 per cent. and 16 per cent. were successful.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many appeals from the decisions of planning authorities in Wiltshire are currently awaiting decision.

Two hundred and sixty-three.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why he has refused loan sanction to assist Knottingley Urban District Council in respect of its sports centre at Hill Top.

Loan sanction for expenditure of £140,000 on phases I and II of this project was given on 21st July 1972 under the programme for infrastructure works in development and intermediate areas announced in July 1971. It was only after this programme had been terminated that I learnt of phase III of the scheme. It was not, therefore, possible to consider it under that programme. The only source of capital available for projects such as this centre is the locally determined sector and, as I have explained to the hon. Member, this year's allocations have already been made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give consideration to the suggestion that architects should be invited to sit as members of public inquiry teams in an effort to reduce delays in the planning system.

My hon. Friend may have in mind the arrangements for the appointment of fee-paid inspectors to conduct planning appeal inquiries. There are difficulties about appointing practising architects. Experience is required of public inquiry procedure and understanding of planning objectives and policies. There is also a risk of conflict of interest. The matter can be looked at again however as part of the review of development control being conducted by Mr. George Dobry, QC.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what he estimates to be the current market value of development land in England and Wales.

There is insufficient information to make any meaningful estimate, but I would expect it to run into tens of thousands of millions of pounds.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment by what criteria he will determine the choice of site for a motorway service area on the West Moar-North Ings section of the M18.

The Department's preferred site at Hatfield is already the subject of a formal notification to the local planning authority under the agreed procedure for development by Government Departments; the planning authority's views are awaited.

The need to consider further sites and make a choice between them will depend upon the views of the planning authority on the present proposal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made towards the establishment of a long-distance lorry park in Newcastle-under-Lyme.