asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will give a general direction to the Post Office not to count against annual leave entitlement the period of camp training undergone by Service reservists.

No. The Post Office tells me it already grants special leave with pay to cover most of this training.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will issue a general direction to the Post Office not to close sub-post offices if such closure causes hardship.

No. The Post Office already takes such factors into account in fulfilling its duties under the Post Office Act 1969.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what preparations have been made by the Post Office to deal with the Christmas mail.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what action is being taken to prevent a recurrence in 1973 of the delays in delivering Christmas mail in 1972 ; and if he will make a statement

It is for the Post Office to announce the details of its Christmas services, but I know that it is doing all in its power to prevent a recurrence of last year's difficulties.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications how many temporary additional staff the Post Office will be employing to help with the Christmas mail in 1973 ; and how the figure compares with those for 1972 and 1971.

The Post Office tells me that it expects to employ slightly less than 100,000 temporary staff this year compared with 98,000 in 1972 and 110,000 in 1971.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what is his estimate of the cost of employing temporary additional staff in the Post Office to help with the Christmas post in 1973 ; and how this compares with the cost for 1972 and 1971.

Detail of this kind is a management matter for the Post Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the latest report on the future commercial development of the Concorde aircraft sent to him by the British Aircraft Corporation.

As I informed the hon. Member for Ashton-under-Lyne (Mr. Sheldon) on 19th November, studies on possible future improvements from the Anglo-French manufacturers have just been received, and are being examined.—[Vol. 864, c. 935–6.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consideration he has given to improving the efficiency of fuel utilisation during the generation of electricity through schemes of district heating linked to power stations.

It is the responsibility of the generating boards to plan and order power stations for the public supply system and it is their statutory duty to investigate methods of using the heat produced in those stations. There are severe practical difficulties in distributing heat from the large, remotely sited stations which it is the boards' policy to construct.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he has taken designed to ensure that no oil owned by British companies is exported, diverted or re-exported to Holland.

The oil companies in the United Kingdom have undertaken to ensure that crude oil intended for this country is not diverted elsewhere.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a further statement on the shortage of oil and petrol with particular reference to the measures which he anounced on 19th November.

It is too soon yet to assess the effect of the measures which my right hon. Friend announced on 19th November. The situation is being very closely watched in conjunction with the oil companies.—[Vol. 864, c. 948–55.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking designed to ensure that oil companies get a fair share of available resources, with particular reference to Derbyshire ; and if he will make a statement.

My Department, with the collaboration of the oil industry, is arranging matters so that all its customers, including independent wholesalers, should receive the allocations to which they are entitled.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if tenants have now been found for the two factories in the Bishop Auckland area vacant in July ; and how many men and women, respectively, are likely to be employed in each by the beginning of 1974.

Both factories have now been allocated. Within the first six months of 1974 about 50 people are likely to be employed—mostly male—and when fully operational the units are expected to provide jobs for over 200 people, including about 150 men.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when construction work will begin on the Government advance factory approved for the Bishop Auckland area.

Construction is expected to begin early in 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in the interests of monitoring the control of public funds injected by Her Majesty's Government into the Norton Villiers Triumph Company, he will appoint a Government director.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave the hon. Member on 19th March.—[Vol. 853, c. 37.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the price differential of electricity generating costs in pence per kilowatt at the latest convenient date, between (i) a modern coal-fired station on a coalfield, (ii) a modern coal-fired station remote from a coalfield, without taking into account the coal subsidy, (iii) a modern oil-fired station with oil by pipeline or berthing facilities for large tankers, and (iv) a modern nuclear-powered station.

There are so many variable factors in providing this information that I am asking the Chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board to write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will use his powers to alleviate the situation facing rearers of brooding chickens who are dependent on propane gas for heating.

The operation of agricultural machinery and equipment used in the production of food is a priority use for the allocation of oil, including liquefied petroleum gas. Priority users who are unable to get their allocation or who have a good reason for a supplementary allocation may invite their supplier to co-operate in making an application to their local regional director of the Department for a supplementary allocation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, as commodity export prices rose at an annual rate of over 45 per cent. during the first six months of 1973, and as the price of manufactures exported rose at one-fifth of that rate, if he will seek international collaboration to redress the balance between the two ; and what steps he has taken in concert with other States to render the terms of trade less disadvantageous to manufacturing States.

The underlying cause of the situation to which the Question refers is the current shortage of foodstuffs and raw materials. The United Kingdom is playing its full part in the international discussions on the resultant problems and means of overcoming them.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of oil is used by domestic motorists.

Separate figures of oil used by domestic motorists are not available. In 1972, 12·8 million tons of motor spirit were used in cars and motor cycles. This represented 13 per cent. of total inland oil deliveries and included use for business purposes. In addition, 372,000 tons of lubricating oils and greases were used in all types of motor vehicles. This represented a further ½ per cent. of total inland deliveries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a detailed statement giving the times and dates when he met representatives of the electricity supply industry to discuss the Government's recently announced regulations under the national emergency ; and what were the results of these discussions.

I am in constant touch with the Electricity Council. As regards the specific regulations I have nothing to add to what I informed the hon. Member during the debate on the emergency regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the accident and death rate at work of miners during 1970, 1971 and 1972 and the latest figures for 1973.

The figures are as follows :

COAL MINES*
	Death and Injury Rates per 100,000 Manshifts
Year	Deaths	Serious Injuries	All Injuries†
1970	0·14	1·00	141·94
1971	0·11	1·00	121·03
1972	0·12	0·98	112·13
1973‡§	0·17	1·06	123·00
* Rates for mines other than coal mines are not available.
† Deaths, serious injuries and injuries resulting in certified absence of more than 3 days.
‡ Provisional figures for the 40 weeks 24th December 1972 to 29th September 1973.
§ Includes the three disasters at Lofthouse, Seafield and Markham collieries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what reply he received from the Chairman of the Price Commission when he requested him to reply to the hon. Member for Pontefract and Castleford, as described in his letter to the hon. Member dated 11th July 1973.

My letter asked the commission to reply direct to the hon. Member. I understand that it has done so.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what contingency arrangements have been made so that in the event of petrol rationing being introduced owners of boats will receive an allocation.

I have been asked to reply.Contingency plans for rationing include special arrangements to cover fishing boats using petrol. The owners of other petrol-fuelled boats will be able to apply for allocations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will introduce a Bill to amend the Fair Trading Act to establish that it is illegal for garages to display signs "Petrol, Regular Customers Only".

This is a matter that is at present best left to the discretion of the garages themselves.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will give the latest available figures for 1973 of the production of cars and commercial vehicles ; and what are the figures of new registrations of these

PRODUCTION, NEW REGISTRATIONS AND EXPORTS OF CARS AND COMMERCIAL VEHICLES
January-October 1973
			Cars	Commercial vehicles
Total production*of which	…	No.	1,436,626	345,337
for home	…	No.	940,471	216,934
for export	…	No.	496,155	128,403
Total new registrations†(including imported vehicles)	…	No.	1,499,068	260,269
Total exportst‡	…	No.	494,723	134,740
	…	£'000	311,462	177,498
* A fuller analysis is available in the Press Notice published on 22nd November, a copy of which has been deposited in the Library.
† The figures are provisional and correspond respectively to those for the categories of "Private cars and vans" and "Goods vehicles" together with "Public transport vehicles" in the Press Notice published on 22nd November by the Department of the Environment. A copy has been deposited in the Library.
‡ Figures given are from Overseas Trade Statistics tabulations available from Customs and Excise.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, in view of the fact that in 1970 there were 1·641 million cars and 0·458 million commercial vehicles produced, and of this number 0·690 million cars and 0·172 million commercial vehicles were exported and that by 1972 the figures were 1·921 million cars and 0·408 million commercial vehicles, of which only 0·627 million cars were exported and 0·140 million commercial vehicles, he will take action designed to reverse this trend.

Although the proportion of vehicles exported as a percentage of total output fell between 1970 and 1972, in money terms the small reduction in the value of exports over this period was much more than offset by increased exports of parts and components. Cars and commercial vehicles to a value of £507 million were exported in 1970, and to a value of £505 million in 1972. Over the same period, the value of parts and components exported rose by nearly £100 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is satisfied with the safety regulations governing those employed in industry, related to the exploitation of oil in the North Sea.

The available information is shown below. Value figures are not available for new registrations or for production for recent periods.

Four sets of regulations under the Mineral Workings (Offshore Installations) Act 1971, have been made ; others are being drafted and will be published shortly. I have progress under review. In the meantime petroleum production inspectors enforce safety conditions attached to exploration and production licences.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the loss of the British motor vessel "Glen Shiel" on 29th June last.

In the light of the findings of the preliminary inquiry into this casualty my right hon. Friend has directed that a formal investigation be held under Section 466 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1894. The date and place of the investigation will be announced as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will announce the Government's intention on controls and quota levels on imports of cotton-type yarns into the United Kingdom from 1st January 1974.

Careful consideration is being given to the proposals which have been made by the British Textile Confederation and an announcement will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the effect of removing controls on the import of cotton yarn on the re-equipment programme of the domestic spinning industry.

We have this aspect very much in mind in considering the British Textile Confederation's proposals about cotton yarn imports.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT as detailed a list as may be available giving the amount and types of exports, on a basis of sterling or quantity, to the Arabian countries.

Value figures for the year to date for each country and for each division of the Standard International Trade Classification (Revised) are published in Table V of the monthly Overseas Trade Statistics.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is satisfied with the working of the Industry Act 1972 ; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. Over 18,800 applications were received up to 26th October for regional development grants under Part I of the Act and £55 million has been paid out.Up to 31st October nearly 1,800 applications for regional selective assistance under Section 7 were received and offers exceeding £76·5 million were made. These offers involved 51,000 new jobs and the maintenance of another 6,500 jobs.Under Section 8, 35 applications were received and payment of nearly £6·5 million made.Over 330 applications were received under Section 11 of the Act and payments of construction grants amounted to £22 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many grants have been made in the United Kingdom under the Industry Act 1972 to the latest available date ;(2) if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the number of grants made under the Industry Act 1972 to development areas to the latest available date ;(3) if he will list in the OFFCIAL REPORT the number of grants made under the Industry Act 1972 to special development areas to the latest available date ;(4) how many grants have been made under the Industry Act 1972 to firms on Merseyside to the most recent available date.

To 31st October the following number of grants were paid :

Firms located in	Part 11 of the Act	Part III of the Act
United Kingdom	120	288
Development areas	25	Not available
Special development areas	17	Not available
Merseyside	4	12
Figures for regional development grants are not separately analysed in terms of individual grants.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what is the total amount of financial assistance given under the Industry Act in the United Kingdom to the latest available date :(2) what is the total amount of financial assistance given under the Industry Act to firms on Merseyside to the latest available date.

The total payments under the Industry Act to 31st October (26th October in the case of regional development grants) were £187·1 million.Statistics relating to individual grants under Part I of the Act are not yet available for Merseyside and loans under Part III cannot be specifically allocated to particular areas of the United Kingdom. These together amounted to £128·8 million.Under Part II and Section 11 of the Act £58·3 million has been paid in loans and grants. The corresponding figure for Merseyside is approximately £6·1 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications have been made for assistance under the Industry Act 1972 by firms on Merseyside ; how many have been granted ; and how many refused.

Up to 31st October firms on Merseyside had submitted applications for 66 projects under Section 7 of the Act ; 21 offers have been made, 13 applications withdrawn and five applications were rejected.For the same period 12 applications were made under Section 11 all of which were granted.Corresponding figures relating to regional development grants are not yet available but £5·4 million has been paid to Merseyside firms for grants in respect of plant and machinery. Additional payments have been made in respect of building grants.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the effect of the exclusion of "pipelines" from the definitions of "machinery or plant" and "works" towards the cost of which regional development grants may be made under Part I of the Industry Act 1972.

The general effect is that pipes outside qualifying premises are not eligible for grant, but most pipes within the boundaries of these premises are eligible. Ineligible pipelines include those for conveying materials or products which do not serve the premises on which they are located and a small number of other pipes which may fall within the

Thousand Tonnes
	January–September 1970	January–September 1971	January–September 1972	January–September 1973
Domestic Production :
Food wrapping papers	58·7	43·7	41·4	40·4
United Kingdom Imports :
Food wrapping papers	27·2	29·1	28·3	31·4
of which :
Greaseproof and imitation greaseproof paper	20·6	19·4	20·7	20·8

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he can now say when he expects to receive the consultants' report on ship repairing.

I expect to receive the report from the consultants shortly. A large number of ship repairers both in Great Britain and abroad have been visited and the study has taken longer than originally envisaged.

asked the Seretary of State for Trade and Industry how many oil tankers are lying off shore in the United Kingdom waiting to discharge their cargoes of oil owing to the storage capacity on shore being exhausted.

None, to my knowledge,

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total quantity of greaseproof paper produced or imported during the first nine months of 1973 and of each of the previous three years, and the price per ream at the latest available date and three months earlier.

Following is the available information :

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what agreement has been reached regarding the future of the EMI-MGM Film Studios at Elstree, Borehamwood ; if the trade unions were consulted ; what effect on manpower will result ; whether it is his intention to use financial support from the National Film Finance Corporation ; and if he will make a statement.

The management of EMI announced on 16th November that following negotiations with the trade unions it was agreed that Elstree Studios would remain open on the understanding that the number of employees will be reduced to about 250. It is not the function of the National Film Finance Corporation to support particular studios.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of landings and take-offs at Heathrow Airport are of freight-carrying aircraft as distinct from passenger aircraft (a) during the day and (b) at night.

I am advised by the Civil Aviation Authority that, for the year ending 30th September 1973, the information is :

AIR TRANSPORT MOVEMENTS— HEATHROW
	All Freight Per cent.	Passenger or Passenger Freight Per cent.
Day (0600–2330 GMT)	6·7	93·3
Night (2330–0600 GMT)	66·2	33·8

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the volume of exports of steel and steel products during the first nine months of 1973 as recorded by Her Majestry's Customs and Excise and by the steel industry, respectively ; and if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing corresponding figures for each of the previous 10 years.

The figures are as follows :

INGOTS, SEMI-FINISHED AND FINISHED STEEL
	January–September 1973 Million tonnes
Exports recorded by H.M. Customs and Excise	30·6
Deliveries for export reported by producers (provisional)	2·66

The following table shows figures for each of the previous 10 years :

UNITED KINGDOM EXPORTS OF INGOTS, SEMIFINISHED AND FINISHED STEEL
	Exports recorded by H.M. Customs and Excise	Deliveries for exports reported by steel producers
	Million tonnes
1963	3·19	3·09
1964	3·50	3·34
1965	3·58	3·40
1966	3·33	3·34
1967	3·70	3·77
1968	4·10	4·03
1969	3·70	3·46
1970	3·84	3·32
1971	4·71	4·52
1972	4·45	4·32

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Liverpool

I recently spoke to a well-attended and enthusiastic meeting of the North West Area Conservative Council in Liverpool.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the effect upon exports and imports of the closure of the Optical Measuring Tools Ltd. factory at Helston.

I have been informed by the parent company that it is not intended to cease the manufacture of precision optical equipment and that this activity will be transferred to other premises of the Newall Group. The effect on exports and imports should, therefore, be minimal.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will consult with the Machine Tool Trades Association and other engineering industry trade associations about the effect on the engineering and allied trades if the proposed closure of the OMT factory at Helston goes ahead.

My Department is in close touch with the parent company on the proposed closure of the factory at Helston. I understand that it is the company's intention to transfer these manufacturing activities to other parts of the Newall Group. In view of this I do not consider it necessary to consult with other bodies.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is satisfied that there are alternative United Kingdom manufacturing resources for precision optical equipment if the proposed closure of Optical Measuring Tools Ltd. takes place.

I have been informed by the parent company that there is no intention to cease manufacture of this equipment. Manufacture is to be transferred to other premises of the Newall Group.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many aircraft are registered by companies and nationalised industries, respectively, for private use or private hire.

The Civil Aviation Authority has the responsibility for maintaining the register of British civil aircraft. If my hon. Friend gets in touch with the chairman of the authority he will, I am sure, be glad to let him have the information, so far as it is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the oil equivalent of the estimated reserves in recently discovered but untapped coalfields.

Responsibility for exploration and proving of reserves rests with the National Coal Board, which has recently commenced a greatly expanded programme of exploration. The estimation of workable reserves involves extensive borings and geological studies, and realistic estimates cannot be made till these are completed. I will write to the right hon. Member when further information on recently discovered reserves is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will give details of retail price percentage increases since 18th June 1970, for the following items, to the nearest available date : soap and detergents, toilet requisites, hardware, ironmongery, medicines and surgical etc. goods, beer, sherry, infants' clothes, children's clothes, men's clothes, women's clothes, books, stationery, postage, telephones, telegrams, etc., rents, mortgage charges on first purchase houses, business rents, rates and water charges.

From the available information the percentage increases in retail prices between 16th June 1970 and 16th October 1973 are as follows :

Item	Percentage Increases
Soap and detergents.	26
Toilet requisites	11
Hardware, ironmongery	26
Medicines and surgical, etc. goods	28
Beer	18
Sherry.	12
Children's clothing	26
Men's outer clothing	38
Men's underclothing	36
Women's outer clothing	33
Women's underclothing	26
Books, newspapers and periodicals	33
Stationery, travel and sports goods, toys, photographic and optical goods, etc	21
Postage, etc.	74
Telephones, telegrams, etc.	36
Rents	35
Mortgage charges on first purchases houses	Not available
Business rents	Not available
Rates and water charges	41

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will give details of retail price percentage increases since 18th June 1970 for the following items, to the nearest available date : potatoes, raw loose tomatoes, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, onions, cooking apples, dessert apples, pears, oranges, bananas, currants, sultanas, canned pears, canned peaches, canned pineapple, canned fruit salad, sweets and chocolates, and food for animals.

The percentage changes in retail prices between 16th June 1970 and 16th October 1973 are as follows :

Potatoes, raw loose	−8
Tomatoes	+27
Cabbage	+60
Cauliflower	+82
Carrots	−10
Onions,	−9
Apples, Cooking	+31
Apples, dessert	+21
Pears	+30
Oranges	+78
Bananas	+44
Currants	+100
Sultanas	+108
Canned Pears	+35
Canned Peaches	+42
Canned Pineapple	+40
Canned Fruit Salad	+40
Sweets and Chocolates Food for Animals	+24

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will give details of retail price percentage increases since 18th June 1970 for the following items, to the nearest available date : beef, lamb, pork, bacon, ham, eggs, bread, pork sausages, beef sausages, pork luncheon meat (tinned), roasting chicken (frozen, 3lb), canned red salmon, butter, margarine, lard, cheese (cheddar type), milk, tea, coffee, coffee extract powder, sugar, jam and marmalade.

The percentage increases in retail prices between 16th June 1970 and 16th October 1973 are as follows :

Item	Percentage Increase
Beef	80
Lamb	83
Pork	71
Bacon	89
Ham	49
Eggs	119
Bread	30
Pork sausages	48
Beef sausages	62
Pork luncheon meat (tinned)	52
Roasting chicken, frozen (3 lb).	78
Canned red salmon	76
Butter	27
Margarine	33
Lard	53
Cheese, cheddar type	79
Milk	20

Tea	9
Coffe, extract, powder	33
Sugar	39
Jam, marmalade	31

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table of figures giving the percentage increase in price, since January 1962, of the major items in the retail price index, such as food, alcoholic drink, tobacco, housing, including rent, rates and water charges, charges for repair and maintenance, fuel and light, durable household goods, clothing and footwear, transport and vehicles, miscellaneous goods, services, meals bought and consumed outside of the home, at June 1970 and September or October 1973, respectively.

The following table shows the percentage increases in the main components of the General Index of Retail Prices :

	Percentage increase between
Group	16th January 1962 and 16th June 1970	16th January 1962 and 16th October 1973
Food	41·6	105·1
Alcoholic drink	43·2	64·8
Tobacco	35·8	41·2
Housing	58·6	119·4
Fuel and light	42·1	81·3
Durable household goods	25·1	53·7
Clothing and footwear	23·1	61·3
Transport and vehicles	31·0	69·7
Miscellaneous goods	41·7	75·6
Services	51·6	109·9
Meals bought and consumed outside the home	45·0	120·7

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many men are employed at Buckley Brickworks, Flintshire.

Information held in my Department's local offices about the labour force of individual employers is regarded as confidential and may not be disclosed without consent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what, at the latest available date, were the numbers of registered unemployed and of unfilled vacancies in the paper and board industry ; and what were the comparable figures 12 months previously.

Following is the information :

PAPER AND BOARD : GRRAT BRITAIN
	Number Unemployed	Number of Unfilled Vacancies
October 1973	1,502	1,544
October 1972	2,722	430

The vacancy figures relate only to vacancies notified to employment offices and careers offices and do not measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour.

Unemployed on 8th October 1973		Men aged 18 and over	Boys aged under IS	Women aged 18 and over	Girls aged under 18	Total
For up to 13 weeks	…	657	41	174	52	924
For over 13 and up to 26 weeks.	…	180	4	66	11	261
For over 26 weeks	…	881	8	104	3	996
Total	…	1,718	53	344	66	2,181
Note : The figures are not adjusted to take into account additions and deletions in respect of the date of the count but notified on the four days following that date.

Rates of unemployment are calculated by expressing the unemployed as a percentage of the numbers of employees, employed and unemployed. Separate rates can be calculated for males but not for men. For October 1973 the rate of unemployment in the area for males was 6·9 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of unfilled vacancies at present registered in the Northern Region.

The provisional number at 7th November 1973 was 19,624. The figure relates only to vacancies notified to employment offices and careers offices and does not measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest position regarding unfilled vacancies in the construction industries in the Northern Region.

On 3rd October there were 2,139 vacancies in construction in the region. The figure relates only to vacancies notified to employment offices and careers offices and does not

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest available total figures of unemployment in the Hartlepools exchange area, showing men, women, boys and girls out of work for periods of less than three months, not more than six months and over six months, respectively ; and what is the wholly employment rate for men as a percentage of the male labour force.

Following is the information for the area covered by the Hartlepool and Hartlepool Headland employment offices :measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if there has been any departure from the principles laid down in the Price and Pay Code in respect of profit-sharing arrangements.

The interpretation and application of the Price and Pay Code provisions in respect of profit-sharing arrangements are matters for the Pay Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the percentage increase of the wages award for 1974 approved by the Joint Industry Board for the Electrical Contracting Industry ; and what estimate he has made of the effect of any refusal to implement this award on plant bargaining and management/labour relationships and on apprentice training schemes.

Long before stage 3 provisions were known, and in accordance with its usual practice of fixing wages well in advance, the Joint Industry Board for the Electrical Contracting Industry awarded increases payable from January 1974 some 34 per cent. above the 1973 standard rates.Now that the stage 3 pay code is in force I hope that the industry will renegotiate its 1974 settlement and notify the Pay Board for approval. In advance of this action it would be wrong to speculate on what might be the effects of a refusal by the Pay Board to approve the settlement.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of men in manufacturing industry earn within £5 per week of average earnings ; and what are the similar figures for those earning between £5 and £10, between £10 and £15, between £15 and £20, and over £20, respectively, above and below average earnings.

The following estimates are based on the New Earnings Survey and relate to men aged 21 and over in full-time non-manual or manual employment in manufacturing industries in Great Britain whose earnings for the survey reference period in April 1973 were not affected by absence.

GROSS WEEKLY EARNINGS : DIFFERENCE FROMA VERAGE (£42·3)
	Approximate percentage of employees
Above average
Over £20	8
£15 to £20	4
£10 to £15	6
£5 to £10	9
Under £5	14
Below average
Under £5	18
£5 to £10	18
£10 to £15	14
£15 to £20	7
Over £20	3

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the increase in average earnings since 6th November 1972 ; and what annual percentage rate this represents.

Between October 1972 and September 1973 the monthly index of average earnings, seasonally adjusted, rose by 11·2 per cent. This represents an annual rate of 12·2 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide a breakdown of the occupations to which coal miners leaving the industry are proceeding.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many work permits have been issued to citizens of Kenya since 1st January 1973.

The number of work permits issued to citizens of Kenya from 1st January to 31st October 1973 was 35, including eight for short-term jobs of less than 12 months' duration.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number of occasions either he or officials from his Department have engaged in discussions about the working of the Industrial Relations Act with the President or members of the National Industrial Relations Court, or members of the staff of the National Industrial Relations Court.

I have had no such discussions, but there have been many contacts between officials of my Department and those of the court about the work of the court in relation to the provision of conciliation by my Department. There has been no discussion of individual judgments of the court.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the employment prospects for the skilled personnel of Optical Measuring Tools Ltd. if the proposed closure of the Helston factory goes ahead.

Most of those who may be affected by the proposed closure of the Helston factory were interviewed by a departmental job team on 16th and 19th November 1973. Prospects of alternative employment for the skilled personnel who may be made redundant are regarded as good.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give an undertaking that, following the new formulae for rate support grant now under consideration by Parliament, local government in Wales will not in real terms, and taking the maximum allowance for local authority spending into account, receive in total less rate support grant for 1973–74 than is reserved by Welsh local government in the current financial year.

No. Our negotiations with the local authority associations concerning both the amount and the distribution of the rate support grant are not yet complete. The changes that will take effect next year in the boundaries and structure of local government units, in responsibility for certain local services and in the pattern of other grants, make meaningless any direct comparison of the actual amounts of rate support grant payable to Welsh authorities for 1973–74 and 1974–75.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps are being taken to conserve petrol and heating oil in the House of Commons.

Instructions have been issued to reduce temperature in the Palace of Westminster from 68F degrees to 65F degrees and further reductions are being considered. All persons using Government vehicles serving the Palace of Westminster have been instructed to reduce petrol consumption by 10 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in order to conform with the order forbidding the use of electricity for heating offices, whether he will ensure that no electricity is used for this purpose in the House of Commons.

Yes. The necessary action is being taken in consultation with the authorities of both Houses.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in the light of the decision of English China Clays Limited to disclose fully the evidence heard in camera in 1967, as substantiated in its letter of 9th November 1973 to the hon. Member for Salisbury, of which a copy was sent to his Department, he will now provide the hon. Member with the annex to the inspector's report originally requested of the then Prime Minister on 9th September 1968.

Yes. The company concerned has signified its agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will issue a general direction to British Rail to maximise the use of motor rail services, so as to increase the number of places for transporting motor cars by rail in the interest of fuel economy.

No. But I have asked the Chairman of the British Railways Board to help by seeking any fuel economies that would be practicable while maintaining essential services.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in the light of public response to his request for voluntary action, he will introduce legislation imposing a compulsory 50 miles per hour limit during the present petrol shortage.

Since the majority of motorists are observing a voluntary limit of 50 mph, the need for legislation will not, I hope, arise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent discussions he has had with environmental groups about his future motorway and trunk road plans.

My right hon. and learned Friend is in regular contact with environmental groups about a wide variety of road proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what effect the transfer of the bulk of freight travelling more than 50 miles from road to rail would have on the commercial need for inter-urban motorways.

Motorway schemes are justified on an individual basis and as an element of Government policy for the completion of a strategic trunk road network. The impact of transferring freight from road to rail would reflect the particular mix of traffic existing and forecast on individual routes and the range of transport facilities available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will review the proposed extension to the motorway network.

The justification for individual schemes is reviewed at a number of stages in the planning and preparation procedures.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total acreage of agricultural land lost to all forms of motorway and road construction during the last 10 years.

This information is not available. It could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average length of time between the purchase and the resale of an owner-occupied dwelling.

It is estimated that, on average, a household selling an owner-occupied dwelling to move to another dwelling does so eight years after buying. The corresponding figure for owner-occupied houses sold for other reasons, such as emigration or dissolution of the household, is not known.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what, in the light of the fall in the Greater London population by 9·6 in 12 months, is his estimate of the consequential reduction in housing demand ; what is the estimated housing shortfall in Greater London at the present date ; and if he will provide incentives to reduce the population even further.

The decline of 96,000 in London's population from 1971 to 1972 has not led to a decrease in the demand for housing ; this is mainly related to the number of households in London, which has not fallen significantly. The latest estimates of housing demand in London were contained in the 1970 report on "London's Housing Needs up to 1974" by the Standing Working Party on London Housing ; later statistics are now being assessed to bring the estimates further up to date. The possibility of effective action to control the size of London's population was studied in the Greater London Development Plan and reported on by the Layfield Panel ; my right hon. and learned Friend is now considering its views.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the cost of local government in the area making up the new Sandwell area ; and how this compares with the costs of local government in the same area in the years 1970, 1971 and 1972.

My right hon. and learned Friend has made no estimates of costs of local government in specific areas. I suggest that the hon. Member seeks information on costs in previous years from the councils of the local authorities concerned—the county boroughs of Warley and West Bromwich.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many acres of derelict land have been reclaimed in each of the last three years in Durham County, the Northern Region, and the United Kingdom, respectively.

According to the annual derelict land surveys in England the acreages restored in the years mentioned were :

	1970	1971	1972
Durham (Administrative County and County Boroughs)	422	805	973
Northern Economic Planning Region	762	1,505	1,788
England	3,645	4,792	5,360

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a further statement on the Government's intentions with regard to granting financial aid to historic churches.

After preliminary discussions the General Synod's working party prepared studies of the estimated costs of the necessary repairs to churches in the dioceses of Norwich and Lincoln and of the local funds available to meet them. These studies are now under consideration. Less intensive studies on churches in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Cheltenham are awaited. When these are available further discussions will be held with the General Synod's working party, which is in touch with the other denominations through the Churches Main Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria he is applying to proposed agency agreements between the new counties and districts.

Advice was given to the new local authorities about the exercise of their agency powers under Section 101 of the Local Government Act 1972 in Circular 131/72 issued by the Department of the Environment, a copy of which I am sending to my hon. Friend. The same criteria and approach are being adopted in the consideration of applications for directions in respect of agency arrangements under Section 110 of that Act.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received a letter from the Federation of North Surrey Residents' Associations about the plans for construction of Ringway 3 ; and what reply he has sent.

Yes. My Department is giving detailed consideration to the matters raised by the federation. A reply will be sent shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many claims for home loss payments were made by displaced persons up to and including the deadline of 22nd November ; and what was the total compensation claimed.

This information is not readily available and would require disproportionate time and effort to secure it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in the light of experience, he will now seek powers to impose a 50 miles per hour speed limit on all roads.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce legislation to make obligatory the notification by all landlords, public and private, of all premises empty for more than three months.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the six rent scrutiny boards which are being chaired by the presidents of the rent assessment panels themselves in the chronological order in which his Department was informed of these decisions.

I am not informed of the appointment or make-up of rent scrutiny boards since this is, as I told the hon. Member in an answer to him on 12th November last—[Vol. 864, c. 25]—a matter for panel presidents themselves to decide. The six presidents referred to in another answer I gave the hon. Member on the same date are from London, Yorkshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire ; Kent, Surrey and Sussex ; and Bristol.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many presidents of rent assessment panels who have not appointed themselves as chairmen of rent scrutiny panels have appointed themselves as vice-chairmen or ordinary members of rent scrutiny panels respectively.

None and one respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why chairmen of rent assessment panels are paid £2 a day more than lawyer and valuer members of rent assessment panels and £12 more than lay members.

The fee reflects the additional responsibilities inherent in the job of chairman.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is aware that large passenger vehicles first used before 1955 are not subject to modern lighting controls ; and if he will take the necessary steps to bring them into compliance therewith.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has yet concluded his consultation in regard to a standard national form for application for planning permissions ; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend has indicated in a recent circular (DOE Circular 142/73) that local government reorganisation will make it essential to have one form within county areas. There is general agreement with the local authority associations on this. It will be sensible to await the outcome of the review of development control by Mr. George Dobry, QC, before further discussions with the associations and professional, trade and other organisations on the scope for standard national forms.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is aware of the difficulties caused by his inability to designate part of the area of a county council under Section 12 of the Caravan Sites Act 1968 ; and whether he will introduce legislation for the amendment of those provisions.

Strong representations have been made on this point by Hertfordshire County Council and others. These are being considered, but I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will consider the possibility of introducing legislation to extend the existing system of standard and discretionary improvement grants to cover the additional facilities, or the improvement of existing facilities, required by disabled people to enable them to remain in their own homes ; and if he will make a statement ;(2) what representations he has received in connection with extending standard and discretionary improvement grants to meet the special needs of disabled people in their homes ; and if he will make a statement.

The Department has recently received a letter from the Chairman of the Association of Disabled Professionals. I am naturally studying this with great care. As the hon. Member knows, adaptation of existing houses for the purpose he has in mind can be secured under Section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 where authorities are satisfied as to need. In relation to local authority dwellings housing authorities have other additional powers. There would be considerable difficulties in introducing into the general improvement grant system specific provisions for meeting the special needs of disabled people.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish the inspector's report into the A5–111 Allestree link road public inquiry held in Derby.

In about three months' time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the annual expenditure on new bus grants under Section 32(1) of the Transport Act 1968 in each of the last five years ; and how many new buses have been provided with the assistance of such grants.

The Government's expenditure on new bus grants has been as follows :

	£ million
1968–69	1·73
1969–70	5·38
1970–71	5·76
1971–72	10·78
1972–73	20·89

Numbers of new buses bought during those years are not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the rate of housing starts in the East Midlands generally and in Northamptonshire in particular in the 12 months ending 31st October 1970, 31st October 1971, 31st October 1972 and for the latest year available.

Following are the available figures which are for years ended 30th September :

DWELLINGS STARTED
Year ended 30th September :	Northampton shire (including Northampton CB)	East Midlands Region
1970	4,868	19,734
1971	5,081	24,286
1972	6,139	28,338
1973	5,819	27,793

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now initiate a feasibility study about a Severn barrage scheme.

No. In its report on "Water Resources in Wales and the Midlands" the Water Resources Board concluded that estuary storage in the Severn would be too costly to merit further consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of fuel duty is at present rebated to passenger transport operators under Section 9 of the Finance Act 1961, as amended by Section 33 of the Transport Act 1968 ; and what representations he has received about the proposed ending of such rebate.

The sum approved for grant under Section 92 of the Finance Act 1965, as amended, is at present 12½p per gallon. This is about 55 per cent. of the fuel duty of 22½p. I am not aware of any proposal to end the rebate and have received no representations on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the annual total amount of rebate of fuel tax to passenger transport undertakings under Section 9 of the Finance Act 1961, as amended, for each of the last five years.

Grants in relief of fuel duty to bus operators for the last five financial years were :

	£ milllion
1968–69	10·1
1969–70	20·4
1970–71	21·2
1971–72	21·3
1972–73	20·9

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is aware that the list of members and their occupations of the East Midlands Rent Assessment Panel in the Library is now out of date ; and whether he will arrange for these lists to be amended when alteration takes place.

The lists are revised at reasonable intervals. The next revision is due early in the New Year. I will write to the hon. Member giving him the four additional appointments made to the East Midland Rent Assessment Panel since the lists were revised in July and August last.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the British Waterways Board's proposed scheme to enlarge its Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation.

I have told the British Waterways Board that I am unable to authorise expenditure on this scheme at present. I intend, however, to consult further with the various interests concerned in the area to see whether the widespread desire for the scheme can be reflected to a greater extent in ways that would ensure adequate financial benefits. Meanwhile, so as to avoid unnecessary delay in the event of my being able subsequently to authorise the scheme, but without prejudice to its financing, I have given my consent to the board's seeking enabling powers to carry it out.