asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council houses were sold to sitting tenants in 1970 and 1972 in England and Wales.

Some 6,000 in 1970; some 45,000 in 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he has given highway authorities concerning the maintenance of road signs in a clean condition.

Advice was issued in 1968 in Chapter 12 of the Traffic Signs Manual.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will ensure that the acquisition of good farming land is kept to that minimum acreage required for reservoir and servicing purposes only, with particular reference to the proposed Carsington reservoir in Derbyshire.

Any authority which seeks compulsory powers to acquire land for a reservoir must satisfy my right hon. and learned Friend that the extent of the proposed acquisition is justified. This, of course, applies to the proposed reservoir at Carsington.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will provide a grant for the purposes of stabilising at a low rate interest upon loans raised by local authorities for the purpose of erecting municipal housing.

No, Sir. The new subsidies under the Housing Finance Act will meet at least 75 per cent., and this year 85 per cent., of the loan charges on admissible expenditure on new housing schemes for authorities with a deficit in their housing revenue account.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is aware of the difficulty experienced by some local authorities in obtaining for their refuse vehicles drivers with the requisite heavy goods vehicle licence; and if he will view the situation in order to modify those requirements so far as is necessary to ease the difficulties.

I would not on road safety grounds be willing to modify driver licensing requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to stimulate growth in the construction industry.

Demand on the construction industry is at present at a higher level than ever before, and the immediate problem is to secure tenders for public authority work at reasonable prices. Discussions are taking place with the industry on this and related matters which affect its future performance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in the installation of telephones in trains ; and if he will make a statement.

This is a matter for the Railways Board.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give a general direction to British Rail to apply their concessionary fares for retirement pensioners throughout the whole rail system.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many houses were built in 1938 ; and how this compares with the figure for 1972.

About 370,000 in Great Britain in 1938 and 319,000 in 1972. In addition, 368,000 improvement grants were approved in 1972. There was none in 1938, except for a small number for agricultural holdings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to uphold local planning authorities which refuse planning consents where, in their view, the size or heights of canopies of petrol filling stations are out of scale with neighbouring development and damaging to the character of the areas around.

Every appeal to my right hon. and learned Friend as a result of a refusal of planning permission has to be considered on its merits having regard to the relevant planning considerations, and it would be improper to undertake to uphold the view of individual local planning authorities on any specific matter. Nevertheless, the factors referred to will be among those taken into account in deciding appeals relating to petrol filling station canopies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any proposals for the better control of rural rubbish tips.

Yes; the disposal licence provisions in the Protection of the Environment Bill are intended to secure better control over all rubbish tips.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the present position regarding smoke control areas in Newcastle-upon-Tyne ; and if he will make a statement.

In recent years progress has been most encouraging. By the end of 1970, 34,329 premises in the city area had been covered by smoke control orders. During 1971 this figure rose by 3,073 and during 1972 by 3,526 premises. So far during 1973 another 10,871 have been added, making present total coverage 54 per cent. of all premises in the city area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he now has of the implementation of the Housing Finance Act in the city of Birmingham.

The number of council tenants receiving rent rebates has almost doubled since the Act was passed. The number of private tenants receiving rent allowances has increased eight times. These increases exclude tenants in receipt of supplementary benefit. The council has assessed fair rents for all its dwellings, and I understand that the report of the rent scrutiny board is expected shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his latest discussions in the EEC Council of Ministers on the subject of juggernaut lorries.

I have nothing significant to report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the present position concerning the despoliation of County Durham beaches.

As I said in reply to a Question by the hon. Member on 17th October, everything possible is being done to reach an early conclusion on this matter. I am not yet in a position to make any further statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will review building regulations to improve standards of thermal insulation in the interests of fuel conservation.

The purpose for which building regulations can be made are at present restricted to health and safety, but the Health and Safety at Work Bill will provide for building regulations, covering buildings generally, to be made in the interests of fuel conservation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now introduce legislation to make it compulsory for lorries to be fitted with gauges which indicate axle loading.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the housing authorities which have asked him to remove restrictions on building of houses for sale by direct labour; what reply he has sent ; and if he will make a statement.

The following is the list: the county borough councils of Darlington, Manchester, Oldham, Sheffield and Sunderland; the Castleford Borough Council ; the urban district councils of Normanton, Shildon and Stanley; and Chesterfield Rural District Council.The Government's views are set out in paragraph 4 of Circular 60/73, a copy of which is in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why he will not cause an inquiry to be established into the safety standards of the Moskvich car, consequent upon the report which he received from the Consumers Association.

Because my Department's engineers have already investigated the situation and the importers have agreed to rectify safety faults.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many members of the advisory group under Mr. George Dobry, QC, appointed to review planning procedures, have themselves in the past had official commitments to the administrative planning structure.

The members of the advisory group were appointed on an individual basis. Particulars were given in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Handsworth (Mr. Sydney Chapman) on 8th November. Of the 16 members of the advisory group, six are local government officers—of whom three are planning officers—two are elected members of local authorities, two were many years ago professional officers of the former Ministry of Housing and Local Government and one is an officer of the Department who has been seconded to the Countryside Commission for the last five years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the prospects for world oil supplies and the need for proper priorities in public expenditure, he will now review his Department's motorway building programme.

As my right hon. Friend announced in his statement to the House on 28th November, the Government are soon to publish a White Paper on Transport Policy. That policy will reflect the potential contribution of the motorway programme and the likely availability of oil supplies. I would ask the right hon. Member to await the White Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will reconsider his decision to make an order under Section 74(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1967 to increase the 30 miles per hour limit to 40 miles per hour in Cambridge Road and Lynn Road, Ely.

No, since I have not yet made one.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give a general direction to the National Bus Company to remove sex discrimination in its staffing policies.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average waiting time for a planning appeal to be heard.

For appeals decided in October 1973, 46 weeks where the decision was made by my right hon. and learned Friend and 40 weeks where the decision was made by an inspector.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his attention has been drawn to the need for a bypass on the A34 at Sutton Scotney, Hampshire ; and what plans he has to provide this.

A public participation exercise to assist in the selection of a route is currently in progress. Comments on the possible alternative routes are requested by 10th December.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the purpose of the sample census of second homes in the south-western counties ; and what was the cost to public funds of this operation.

The South-West Economic Planning Council initiated this study to find out the economic effects of second home ownership. The extra cost to public funds is not expected to exceed £4,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will maintain the present level of improvement grants in assisted areas beyond June 1974 only for those local authorities whose programmes have fallen or will fall behind schedule because of shortages of labour or materials.

No. The provisions of the Housing Finance Act 1972 will ensure that additional help will continue to be available notwithstanding the reduction in specific contributions towards local authority improvements that will take place on the expiry of the Housing Act 1971 in June 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total gross area of offices within the central London area occupied by central Government offices, excluding offices providing a local service ; and how many car parking spaces, excluding the Government car service, are provided by these offices.

About 20 million sq. ft., with 4,011 car parking spaces.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he now expects to introduce legislation to ensure that empty office blocks are suitably occupied.

The provision in the Local Government Bill to enable local authorities to charge full rates on empty property should act as an inducement to letting. Further measures have not been ruled out.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps are being taken to clean and preserve the exterior of the Palace of Westminster.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a similar Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Sevenoaks (Sir J. Rodgers) on 12th November 1973.—[Vol. 864, c. 25.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made with regard to how long cleaning the exterior of the Palace of Westminster would take from start to finish.

About three years, if Members would agree to continuous working ; seven years if work were restricted to parliamentary recesses.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received against the new parking restrictions he intends to introduce in Bridport during winter and summer ; and why he has not yet reached a decision on the public inquiry held into a possible additional car park in April 1972.

Eighteen. It has proved necessary to reopen the inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what lines the new public works contract system will follow.

Consultations with the construction industry about public sector construction contracts are making good progress, and I hope to make a statement very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for cutting down significantly on the lighting of all trunk roads ; and whether he is giving advice to highway authorities concerning the saving of electricity on road and street lighting.

Appropriate authorities have been asked to reduce current consumed by 10 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is aware that motorists can obtain a replacement car registration book by stating that the original one has been lost ; and what steps he is taking to ensure that these claims are genuine and not the means of obtaining two sets of petrol coupons.

Yes. In addition to the usual declaration of loss and undertaking to return the original if found, motorists are now required to declare whether coupons have been issued on the strength of the lost book ; in which case a note of this is made on the duplicate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make known his decision on the SELNEC Piccadilly-Victoria rapid transit system before 21st December.

I would refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Members for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Alfred Morris), Ashton-under-Lyne (Mr. Sheldon) and Manchester, Exchange (Mr. Hatton) earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps designed to eliminate evasion of motor vehicle tax.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now give grant approval to stages 1A and 1B of the northern route in order to secure parallel completion with the A19 trunk road, Teesside diversion, stage 1, and to minimise hardship caused to householders by delay to this scheme.

These schemes are being considered for a place in the firm programme. I hope this issue and the related grant approval can be settled by early in the New Year, and I shall keep my hon. Friend informed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will propose standards under which local authorities will report to ratepayers ; and if he will make a statement.

Many of the new local authorities have already shown that they are aware of the need to keep their residents informed about their activities, and in these circumstances my right hon. and learned Friend is not convinced that any action on his part is required.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of road accidents on ordinary roads and motorways has been associated with burst tyres in 1970, 1971 and 1972, respectively.

About 16 per cent. of injury accidents on motorways and 1 per cent. on other roads. The information is not available on an annual basis.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied with the existing law in relation to children's seat harnesses ; and whether he will seek powers to require children under 10 years to sit in the back seats of cars.

To the first part of the Question the answer is "Yes" ; to the second part "No".

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, whether he will introduce regulations requiring a standard height and construction for all car bumpers with a minimum impact absorbing standard.

Much study, and international discussion, will be necessary before such regulations can be contemplated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will examine measures to improve the alignment of footpaths and the streamlining of the procedures for temporarily diverting footpaths ;(2) what representations he has had that bulls should be forbidden in fields in which there are public footpaths ; and if he will make a statement on his policy in this matter.

The Second Report on Sport and Leisure by the Select Committee in another place makes recommendations concerning the rationalisation of the footpath system. In October my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food asked the Advisory Council for Agriculture and Horticulture to review his Department's policy in relation to the law regulating the presence of bulls in fields crossed by public rights of way, and its report is awaited.The matters raised by my hon. Friend will be considered in the light of the reports of these two bodies. My right hon. and learned Friend has received few representations concerning bulls but two national amenity bodies have written to him on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will include a special section on transport problems in Wales in the forthcoming White Paper on transport.

I have noted the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is aware that the Warboys Committee recommended kerbside markings in its report in 1963 ; and what action his Department has taken to implement this recommendation.

Yes : such markings are prescribed by the traffic signs regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ascertain and publish the number of local authorities which have carried out the recommendations of the Warboys Report and the Road Research Laboratory on kerbside markings.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied that the current system of road markings is adequate.

In general, yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the British standard on kerbside markings.

BS 3262: Part 1: 1960 deals with thermoplastic materials.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what he estimates to be the cost of a fatal and nonfatal road accident respectively.

£26,000 and £700 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will publish the evidence supplied by British Rail in support of its proposed initial motorail network via the Channel Tunnel, as illustrated in Plate 7B of Command Paper No. 5430 ;(2) if he will publish the evidence supplied by British Rail in support of its proposed initial freight container network via the Channel Tunnel, as illustrated in Plate 6B of Command Paper No. 5430.

Plates 6B and 7B of Command Paper No. 5430 are preliminary indications of the networks concerned and British Rail is continuing to study how they may be developed. Freight container and motorail services via the Tunnel will be provided wherever traffic volumes justify them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many firms of consultants were considered to undertake the Channel Tunnel transport cost benefit study.

One. The study had both to draw on the results of, and to follow very rapidly on, the traffic and revenue studies already being undertaken for the Governments and the Channel Tunnel Companies by Messrs. Coopers and Lybrand Associates Ltd.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated annual cost of providing concessionary travel arrangements in the United Kingdom for all schoolchildren ; and what would be the approximate cost of extending the facilities to all children up to the age of 16 years, including all those living within the statutory walking distance of school.

My Department does not collect information on these costs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue a direction to public transport undertakings to make concessionary fares available to all children below the compulsory school leaving age of 16 years.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about the proposals for a land hoarding charge ; what replies he has sent ; and if he will make a statement.

I have received the views of the local authority associations, the Greater London Council, the building industry and other associated organisations as well as of a number of independent representations. I have replied to say that these are all being carefully considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has made regarding the imposition of infrastructure charges on the development of private houses ; what consultations he is having about it ; and if he will make a statement.

The proposals set out in paragraphs 23 and 24 of the White Paper "Widening the Choice : the Next Steps in Housing" (Command 5280) on ways of securing contributions by developers towards the cost of services provided by public authorities have been discussed with a wide range of interested bodies including the local authority associations and representatives of the house building industry. We are considering the points made in the discussions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will amend Regulation 8 of the consultation draft of the compensation regulations to be applied to local government officers on reorganisation to eliminate distinction between men and women, both on grounds of non-discrimination and in the light of the common compulsory retiring age under the Local Government Superannuation Act.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now make a statement about the future of the Ashford-Ore Railway, in the light of his recent announcement about future railway policy.

I am discussing the future of the passenger service with the county councils.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will consider making to the Greater London Council a special grant to help fund the excavation and archaeological reports thereon of the Thames river frontage from Blackfriars to the Tower, and inland to Upper and Lower Thames Street, as two-fifths of this area will be redeveloped in the next five years and the remainder within the next 10 years ;(2) if he will consider giving a special grant to help in the excavation of Wallingford, which is one of the few planned Saxon towns in Great Britain, and two-thirds of the archaeological potential of which is likely to be destroyed uninvestigated in the next decade.

Grants have already been made to the appropriate archaeological organisations towards the cost of rescue excavations in both these areas. Further grants are being considered for 1974–75 and more work is in view as and when firm proposals are received for further excavations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the current difficulties in the supply of energy, he proposes to suspend the extension of smokeless zones.

No. I am advised that there is at present no need to do this. However, if any local authority feels itself compelled temporarily to suspend smoke control on account of a local shortage of smokeless fuels, its application for a suspension order from my Department will be dealt with very quickly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will introduce regulations to require the fitting of laminated windscreens in cars imported into Great Britain, in view of the medical evidence of the high eye injury rate of other types ;(2) if he will introduce regulations to require the fitting of laminated windscreens in cars manufactured in Great Britain, in view of the medical evidence of the high eye injury rate of other types.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, of the 38,000 cases during 1972 in which the Metropolitan Police and traffic wardens in the Greater London area reported vehicles without the display of a current road fund licence, how many resulted in prosecution, and with what results, so far as amounts of fines were concerned.

In 1972 the Greater London Council received from the Metropolitan Police and other sources 405,245 reports of vehicles not displaying a current licence. There were 31,614 prosecutions, resulting in fines of £436,135. In addition, 32,075 cases were settled out of court, £223,842 being paid in mitigated penalties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much urban land held for defence purposes has been released for house building as a result of the activities of his property review and development group.

The group has several sites under review, some with possibilities for housing. It is too soon yet to say what results will emerge. Appraisals, obtaining planning determinations and deciding how to provide elsewhere for existing occupiers is bound to take time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all schemes exceeding £500,000 submitted to his Department by metropolitan districts or which may be under discussion for grant purposes, the nature of such schemes, the estimated cost thereof and the total estimated expenditure involved at date of completion prices.

Metropolitan district councils do not begin operating until 1st April 1974 ; therefore no such schemes have been submitted yet. If my hon. Friend will let me have details of the type of schemes in which he is interested I will try to help him with information upon those which existing authorities have submitted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what changes he proposes in the present administrative arrangements for the payment of rent rebates and allowances to tenants in receipt of supplementary benefit.

After consultation with the local authority associations and the Advisory Committee on Rent Rebates and Rent Allowances, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services and my right hon. and learned learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I have decided to simplify the existing arrangements from 1st April 1974 so that these tenants will have an addition to their supplementary benefit for that part of their rent now met by a rent rebate or allowance. To maintain a housing authority's responsibility for rent rebates and allowances to supplementary benefit tenants in its area there will be a financial adjustment between the Department of Health and Social Security and the housing authority on a basis agreed with the local authority associations. Arrangements will be made to explain the effect of the change to the tenants concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the environmental implications of extracting oil from the shale deposits in Scotland.

The opening and reopening of shale works in Scotland would be subject to normal planning control, and in the consideration of any application full account would be taken of environmental implications.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list, subject by subject, the number of students from teacher training colleges in Scotland who entered the teaching service of each individual education authority in Scotland in August 1973, naming each authority ; and if he will make a statement.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will advise education authorities in Scotland that, in exercising their discretion to award further education bursaries to students, they must have regard to the provisions of EEC Regulation No. 1612/68 of the Council of Ministers dated 15 th October 1968 ; and if he will make a statement.

Subject to the provisions of the Education (Scotland) Act 1962 and regulations made under it Scottish education authorities have discretion whether or not to grant a further education bursary in any particular case. I have no reason to believe that education authorities in exercising this discretion discriminate against the children of nationals of other member States of EEC and I therefore see no reason to issue advice on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for increasing the number of designated schools in Scotland, and in Ayrshire, respectively.

I shall soon be putting proposals to the Scottish Teachers Salaries Committee regarding arrangements to be made when the present scheme ends next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the names of the designated schools in Ayrshire.

Cumnock Academy and Dalmellington High School.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from interested bodies seeking an increase in the payment to teachers in designated schools, and seeking the inclusion of head teachers in these payments ; and if he will make a statement.

I have received representations for increases in the payments to teachers in designated schools from the Association of Directors of Education and a number of other bodies and individuals ; I have also received representations for the inclusion of head teachers in the designation scheme from the Headteachers Association of Scotland and other bodies and from an individual head teacher.I shall soon be putting proposals to the Scottish Teachers Salaries Committee regarding arrangements to be made when the present scheme ends next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider bringing forward the date for the next review of Scottish teachers' salaries from 1st April 1974 to 1st January 1974.

No. The last revision of teachers' salaries took effect from 1st April 1973, and under the Counter-Inflation (Price and Pay Code) (No. 2) Order 1973 no further increase can be made within the following 12 months.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what changes he proposes in the present administrative arrangements for the payment of rent rebates and allowances to tenants in receipt of supplementary benefit.

After consultation with the local authority associations, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services and I have decided to simplify the existing arrangements from May 1974, so that these tenants will have an addition to their supplementary benefit for that part of their rent now met by a rent rebate or allowance.To maintain the housing authority's responsibility for rent rebates and allowances to supplementary benefit tenants in its area there will be a financial adjustment between the Department of Health and Social Security and the housing authority on a basis agreed with the local authority associations. Arrangements will be made to explain the effect of the change to the tenants concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will investigate the extent to which heavy lorries from the Continent are filling up with fuel when they arrive in Great Britain and then again before they leave ; and whether he will make a statement.

No. These statistics are not collected. But as garages are limiting supplies to their customers, such practices would be difficult.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will give either a detailed list or summary of the rules, regulations, directives, duties and levies as imposed by the Common Market which affect his Department in any way ; and to what extent these have increased or decreased prices and costs or made any difference to the expenditure of his Department, the consumer, or taxpayer for which he has ministerial responsibility.

No. The English texts of Community secondary legislation adopted before the enlargement of the Community are published in the Special English Edition of the Official Journal. An index to this edition has been published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Secondary legislation adopted since 1st January 1973 is listed on the front pages of the issues of the Official Journal in which the texts are published. All of these publications are available in both the Vote Office and the Library.The second part of the Question could be answered, in so far as this is practicable, only at an unjustifiable cost to public funds.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will seek powers to prevent new garages opening during the period of the fuel shortage when existing garages are having their fuel supplies cut.

No. The local planning authorities will no doubt have due regard to the need for new garages in their areas when considering applications for planning permission. Fuel supplies to any new garages which might come into operation will be based on a reduced estimate of the annual consumption under normal operating conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the total of British investment in Iran identified by industry.

The total book value of British direct investment in Iran, excluding oil, banking and insurance, at the end of 1971 amounted to £5·9 million. In addition there was substantial investment in oil. Separate figures are not available by industry because they would disclose confidential information. Iran, however, offers major prospects for investment and industrial co-operation. At the Iran-United Kingdom Investment Conference which I attended last week in Persepolis I was able to announce details of a number of joint venture agreements between Iran and United Kingdom enterprises worth an estimated total value in excess of £250 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many British industrial joint ventures have been negotiated with Iranian companies ; and if he will identify those established and the products produced or manufactured.

A list of British firms which have established joint ventures with Iranian enterprises is as follows :LIST OF JOINT VENTURES

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the size of occurrences of oil shales in the United Kingdom ; whether the reserves are large enough to warrant commercial exploitation ; and at what price.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the conditions attached to the acceptance by Iran of investment by United Kingdom companies in Iran.

I shall send to my hon. Friend a copy of the Iranian Law and Regulations for the Attraction and Protection of Foreign Investments.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will identify the number of mini-steelworks for which authorisations have been granted in the United Kingdom together with their ownership, location and projected capacities.

Since the repeal of Section 15 of the Iron and Steel Act 1967 with effect from 1st January 1973, Government authorisation has not been required for steelmaking projects by private sector steel companies, but outside the development areas industrial development certificates are necessary for new projects above the current exemption limits. From published information the following companies have announced their intention to proceed with mini-steelworks projects :

Estimates by the United Nations in 1967 put United Kingdom total reserves in the 1,500 million—2,000 million tons range ; recoverable reserves are probably much lower. As I said on 4th December in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, South (Mr. Clark Hutchison), I am arranging for a re-examination of the prospects for a resumption of the Scottish shale oil industry ; this will cover commercial viability and price.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his estimate of the extra fuel which has been and will be consumed as a result of the delays caused to aircraft landings at Heathrow, arising from major repairs being undertaken to runways during the period of the fuel shortage.

Essential repair work on the main northern runway at Heathrow began on 15th November and was completed on 23rd November. It is not possible to estimate the fuel which may have been consumed as a result of the temporary closure.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what directions he has given to electricity boards to conserve electricity by reducing the amount of street lighting and ensuring that street lighting is operative only during the hours of darkness.

My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has sent a circular to all lighting authorities asking them to seek a 10 per cent. saving in electricity consumption for street lighting. The possibility of further savings is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce legislation to forbid modern reproductions of antique coins which are being passed off as genuine.

It is already an offence under the Theft Act 1968 to obtain money by deception and under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 to apply in the course of a trade or business a false trade description to any goods.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what undertakings he has sought from and been given by Guest Keen and Nettlefolds concerning the future administration of Miles Bruce in the event of a successful bid and in the absence of any reference to the Monopolies Commission.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will indicate what provisions in the Treaty of Paris he considers prevent him from referring the proposed Guest Keen and Nettlefolds bid for Miles Bruce to the Monopolies Commission.

The essential issues raised by the proposed merger are covered by Article 66(2) of the Treaty of Paris, and under that article are for the European Commission to determine. There were no matters of public interest arising from other issues sufficient to justify a reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make available to Parliament the observations that he submitted to the EEC Commission concerning the Government's policy towards the proposed Guest Keen and Nettlefolds bid for Miles Bruce.

No. Comments made to the EEC Commission were based on information obtained in confidence from the parties and others concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his estimate of the average annual outage due to refuelling and to maintenance respectively of the following civil nuclear reactor systems : the Magnox, the advanced gas-cooled reactor, the high-temperature reactor, the steam generating heavy water reactor, the boiling water reactor, the pressurised water reactor and the fast breeder reactor.

Only the Magnox system has operated commercially in this country and that system is refuelled on load.Details of outages of CEGB and SSEB reactors for the years 1963 to 1972 were given by Mr. W. J. Prior of the CEGB in his paper "Experience of Commercial Operation" submitted to the 5th Foratom Congress in Florence this year and published by the British Nuclear Forum.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how close to a major conurbation he would permit a power station for the CEGB to be built according to the following reactor systems : Magnox, AGR, HTR, SGHWR, BWR, PWR and fast breeder reactor, respectively.

The Government adopted a cautious siting policy at the start of the nuclear power programme. But we required that the major contribution to public safety was to come from the high standards of design, construction and operation of nuclear plants. As a result of advances in technology and satisfactory experience in the design, construction and operation of gas cooled reactors, AGRs in prestressed concrete pressure vessels are now permitted on sites like those at Heysham and Hartlepool. Similar considerations will apply to the siting of any other reactor system adopted for commercial use in this country. Sites like those used for the earlier Magnox stations would be suitable for any reactor system I would licence and relaxation to sites nearer to centres of population would depend on relevant experience.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many turnkey contracts have been awarded for the construction of electricity generating power stations using a nuclear reactor system in the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Western Europe, respectively, in the last 10 years ; and in how many cases in each category a loss has been admitted by the contractor.

In the 10-year period 1963–73 contracts have been awarded in the United Kingdom for the construction of six nuclear electricity generating stations. All were turnkey contracts.The construction companies provide annual reports and accounts in the usual manner. Five of the contracts—for advanced gas-cooled reactors—have yet to be completed. Information in the detail asked for on overseas contracts is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what advan- tage he estimates a Westinghouse PWR nuclear power station would have for the Central Electricity Generating Board over any other alternative European system.

The PWR is one of the reactor systems being examined by the NPAB as part of its work on thermal reactor choice. It has not yet made any recommendation on this subject. As I have made clear, we hope to reach decisions in the early part of next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, in view of the decision of all major importers of foreign cars to impose a quota system for imports of cars, whether he will now make this his policy ; and if he will make a statement.

I am not aware of any such decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to establish that the doubtful viability of the London and County Securities Limited group does not apply to or will not affect similar operations run by other companies, having regard equally to the interests of shareholders and depositors, policy and bond holders, and persons with second mortgages.

I see no need for special action of the kind suggested. A system for monitoring the accounts of deposit-taking companies at six-monthly intervals already exists under the terms of the Protection of Depositors Act 1963.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will investigate the second mortgage and banking transactions of the London and County Securities Limited group with a view to protecting members of the public who may be involved as borrowers or depositors in this banking concern.

As I indicated in reply to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Bristol, South-East (Mr. Benn) on 3rd December—[Vol. 865, c. 909–16]— certain inquiries are already being made by my Department. The scope of these will be extended if necessary. I understand that the consortium which is taking over the affairs of London and County Securities Group Ltd. has arranged for substantial financial support and is satisfied that the amount involved is sufficient to safeguard the interests of depositors.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further financial assistance he proposes to make available for the provision of advice centres.

I propose to make available up to £250,000 in 1974–75, £500,000 in 1975–76 and £550,000 in 1976–77 for the establishment of new citizens' advice bureaux and the improvement of existing ones, and for developing and promoting a corporate identity for the advice centre network.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is aware of the inconvenience caused to drivers of invalid cars because of delays in repairs and shortage of replacement vehicles at authorised repair departments ; and whether he will take steps to reduce these inconveniences.

Steps have been taken during the past few months both to increase the availability of reserve vehicles of the later varieties and to supplement stocks of some spare parts that had been temporarily in short supply.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what limits, if any, it is proposed shall be placed on, respectively, the Occupational Pensions Board and Reserve Pensions Board regarding the extent to which the Reserve Pensions Board and schemes recognised by the Occupational Pensions Board shall be permitted to invest in property, directly or indirectly ; and what level of investment in property it is estimated will have built up from these sources by 1980, 1990 and 2000.

My right hon. Friend has no power to place any such restrictions on the Occupational Pensions Board or the Reserve Pensions Board. On the second part of the Question, it would be impracticable to make any such estimate.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people were employed at Sedgefield General Hospital at the latest available date and on the same day of each month since October 1972.

Following are numbers of employees on the payroll of Sedgefield General Hospital :

Date	Number
30-10-72	433
30-11-72	438
30-12-72	444
30-1-73	439
28-2-73	432
30-3-73	425
30-4-73	424
30-5-73	419
30-6-73	413
30-7-73	422
30-8-73	413
30-9-73	417
30-10-73	389
30-11-73	390

In addition there are 20 student nurses, one sister and two clinical instructors working at Sedgefield General Hospital, who have been on the payroll of the North Tees General Hospital since the opening of the new nurse training centre there in October 1973. There are also 10 pathology technicians working at Sedgefield General Hospital but on the payroll of North Tees General Hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the cost of Government advertisements informing pensioners how to obtain the £10 Christmas bonus.

£40,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to be able to provide Bawtry with a health centre.

My right hon. Friend hopes to complete by about the turn of the year a review of health centre projects which local authorities have indicated could be started during 1974–75 if sufficient funds were available. He cannot anticipate now whether this scheme will be selected.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many health centres have been constructed in the county area of the West Riding of Yorkshire ; how many are under construction ; and where they are located.

At 31st October there were 35 health centres in the West Riding of Yorkshire and a further 10 were under construction.The existing health centres are at :

Boroughbridge	Brampton Bierlow
Cleckheaton	Castleford
Ilkley	Wetherby
Knottingley	Bancroft
Middlestown	Featherstone
Pateley Bridge	Kinsley
Birkenshaw	Kiveton Park
Bramhope	Mexborough
Ecclesfield	Upper Poppleton
Holmfirth	Wilsden
Mytholmroyd	Bentham
Stocksbridge	Drighlington
Woodlands	Goole
Crosshills	Mirfield
Stannington	Oulton
Starebeck	Steeton
Uppermill	Swinton
West Ardsley

Those under construction are at :

Dalton	Queensbury
Hatfield	Snaith
Hapbury	Swallownest
Kippax	Thorne
Oughtbridge	Yeadon

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is the proportion of the United Kingdom's gross national product devoted to current arms expenditure; how this proportion compares with the average for the other Western European NATO countries; and what would be the annual saving in cash terms of reducing the proportion to that of those countries.

Revised figures should be available shortly. In the meantime I would refer the hon. Gentleman to what I said in the defence debate on 15th March 1973.—[Vol. 852, c. 1516.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what quantity of wheat has been sold other than for milling or denaturing, and at what average price, during the months of August, September and October, respectively.

As explained in the reply to my hon. Friend on 28th November—[Vol 865, c. 161.]— the corn returns do not separate wheat for denaturing from other feed wheat. The following table gives ex-farm spot prices to growers in England and Wales for wheat other than for milling.

£ per ton
	August	September	October
Seed wheat	62·05	62·31	62·10
Feed wheat*	55·92	55·23	56·37
Denatured	48·72	55·11	54·74
*Includes wheat for denaturing.

Information on total quantities sold is not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of notice of remedy breaches have been considered by arbitration under the Agriculture Act 1948 for the last three years, giving the figures for each year.