asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set up a housing action group to deal with the housing problem in Sheffield.

No. The Sheffield City Council has the necessary powers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total number of improvement grants made during the period June 1970 to 31st December 1973; how this figure compares with the corresponding period prior to June 1970; how many were granted in 1973; and, of that figure, how many were granted in Stockport.

The numbers of improvement grants approved in Great Britain for all owners in the period of three and a half years immediately before the end of June 1970 were 453,000 and in the period of three and a half years immediately after June 1970 were 1,154,000. In 1973 453,000 grants were approved in Great Britain. Figures for individual authority areas for the same period are not yet available, but the number approved in Stockport in the first nine months of 1973 was 712 compared with 285 grants approved in the first nine months of 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the aggregate of rent rebates allowable in England for each of the calendar years 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973, respectively.

The figures available are for financial years and include Wales. Estimates for the following years are: 1970–71, £19 million; 1971–72, £18 million; 1972–73, £66 million; 1974–75, £190 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the amounts of Government money being devoted to the research and development of techniques of recycling waste materials.

I suspect that I shall never be satisfied. However, given the current national need to control public expenditure we are doing as well as can be expected in present circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what expenditure has taken place on the proposed new parliamentary building since the last debate in the House.

£17,087. A total of £100,000 is being provided to enable plans to be developed as indicated by my right hon. Friend the Lord President in replying to the debate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he can now give the number of houses built in the United Kingdom in 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many homes were completed in the public and private sectors, respectively, in 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he can now say what was the total number of new houses completed in 1973 in the public and private sectors, respectively.

I would refer the hon. Members to the house building figures for 1973 which were published on 31st January and are in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment to what extent he estimates house building in private and public sectors is being held back due to cuts in expenditure on schools, roads and sewers.

So far as I am aware, the completion and occupation of houses need not be held up by lack of these services. I am, of course, anxious that housing should be accorded high priority and if the hon. Member has a particular case in mind, perhaps he would let me have the details.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, following the publication of the Dobry interim report on planning procedures, he is proposing to take steps to implement any of its recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the Dobry Interim Report on Review of the Development Control System.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has now studied the interim Dobry Report on the planning control system; if he proposes to introduce legislation; what administrative measures can be taken as a matter of urgency without legislation; and if he will make a statement.

This interim report is primarily a consultation document. Nevertheless action on some of the recommendations can be initiated now; some experimental action has already been put in train. I will consider the possibility of introducing some amendments arising from the report at a later stage of the Housing and Planning Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many office buildings he estimates were empty in London and the South-East at the latest available date.

No central records are kept for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with safety standards relating to speed on British Rail; and if he will make a statement.

Railway safety standards are a matter for the board.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to make his decision on his inspector's report on the public inquiry into the compulsory purchase orders made by Claoton Urban District Council and affecting the properties of members of the Jaywick Sands Freeholders' Association.

Within the next month or two.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will expedite authorisation of the Blandford and district main drainage scheme.

I am appreciative of the possible arguments relating to public health risk and housing development advanced in favour of this scheme. But I must await the consideration of it with some fifty other schemes by the Wessex Water Authority during this month because new work approved would form part of the authority's expenditure programme for 1974–75, which is necessarily restricted in present circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what effects proposed expenditure cuts on road building will have on schemes in the west Midlands.

Work on existing contracts will continue. My right hon. Friend is reviewing the future road programme and a statement will be made soon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he can now say what effects the proposed cuts in road building will have on schemes in the South-West.

Work on existing contracts will continue. I am reviewing the future road programme and will make a statement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the principles laid down at the time of the announcement of the trunk road programme by his predecessor in 1971 still apply.

Yes, although it will not now be possible to complete the comprehensive network by the early 1980s.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, for the removal of doubt, he will introduce a Bill to ensure that the Land Compensation Act provides for home loss payment where property is acquired by local authorities both for redevelopment and rehabilitation purposes.

No. The Act already provides for home loss payment where a person is displaced from a dwelling in consequence of compulsory acquisition for whatever purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will hold further discussions with local authorities concerning their rate assessments for 1974–75, following the publication of his proposals.

No. My right hon. and learned Friend has issued a circular laying down guidelines for local authority expenditure in 1974–75. If local authorities exercise this restraint in expenditure recommended by the circular then, subject to exceptional local circumstances, the increase in domestic rates should not exceed 9 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps in 1974 to improve facilities for overseas visitors at places of interest in his charge in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend keeps facilities for all visitors, especially those from overseas, under continuous review. We shall do all we can to improve facilities, so far as resources permit, particularly in view of Architectural Heritage Year. If my hon. Friend has any suggestions, we shall be glad to consider them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, given the maintenance of existing services, what effect he estimates the Exchequer contribution for the year 1974–75 to Kirklees Metropolitan District will have on the rate burden on householders.

Unless there are exceptional local circumstances the new variable domestic relief arrangements should ensure that the rate burden on householders does not increase by more than about 9 per cent. But this depends on decisions to be taken by the new West Yorkshire and Kirklees councils and assumes that they will exercise the restraint in public expenditure indicated in the circular my Department issued last week.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be able to approve a suitable ventilation unit for use in sound insulation schemes to conform with the Noise Insulation Regulations of September 1973.

The approving authority is the Agrément Board which is currently testing three units. Results will be available shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further steps he is taking to make the Humber Estuary safer for entry by large modern oil tankers such as the "Conoco Britannia".

The British Transport Docks Board is considering the issue of general directions to control the traffic flow and the establishment of a harbour radar surveillance system.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent discussions he has had with the Building Societies Association on the mortgage scheme for first-time buyers.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the written reply which I gave on 29th January to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, East (Mr. Dykes).—[Vol. 868, c. 94.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details of any research work already undertaken on the relationship between road accidents and faulty eyesight; and if he has any plans for future research into this subject.

In view of its length I am sending my hon. Friend a list of the relevant studies. The Transport and Road Research Laboratory is undertaking further research in co-operation with the University of California.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will reconsider his refusal to give the London borough of Brent planning permission to build homes for its citizens on Pilgrim's Way in the light of his further consideration of the Greater London Development Plan.

The position in law is that once a decision has been given on a planning application, as in this case, my right hon. and learned Friend cannot reopen the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what he estimates will be the effect of the rate support grant proposals on Sunderland in terms of grant and rates and changes to the new basis.

As a result of the new grant arrangements it should be possible for the increase in rate burdens in Sunderland in 1974–75 to be kept substantially below the national average. But the actual figures will depend on decisions to be taken by the new Tyne and Wear and Sunderland Councils.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take steps to ensure that new building projects in the public sector are planned for greater efficiency in the use of energy, including provision for adequate thermal insulation and the construction, where suitable, of on-site power generation in order to obtain higher thermal efficiency.

I have already proposed that insulation standards for housing should be virtually doubled, and the Government are seeking powers in Part III of the Health and Safety at Work Bill to impose requirements for thermal insulation in non-domestic buildings as well. On-site power generation is considered by my Department in appropriate cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give an estimate of the net financial loss in terms of public funds to the city of Birmingham as a result of the Chancellor's cut-back in public spending during next year and the three subsequent years.

There will be no such loss to public funds. Local authorities have been asked to spend less on capital projects and to reduce the growth in their current expenditure next year. This, together with the higher rate of Exchequer grant that we have just announced, should ease the burden that would otherwise have fallen on ratepayers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what general directions he has issued to British Rail concerning fuel and energy savings.

None. But I have asked the Railways Board to take into account all the implications of the energy situation including the need to seek fuel economies where practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps with a view to reducing the number of car parking spaces provided by Government offices in central London to a figure approximating to that recommended by the Greater London Council as traffic authority for London.

I will consider any proposals the Greater London Council makes to me for a reduction of Government car parking spaces in central London.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what effect the recently announced expenditure cuts will have on the A66 trunk road improvement scheme.

Work will be continued on existing contracts. The timetable for future schemes on the route is now being reviewed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now seek powers to extend security of tenure to tenants of furnished properties.

No. This could well do more harm than good.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the present average outpouring of effluent into the River Mersey each day in the area of Warrington; what is the nature of that effluent; and how greatly the amount now polluting the river has varied during the past five years.

Control of discharges to the River Mersey is the responsibility of the Mersey and Weaver River Authority. If the hon. and learned Member gets in touch with the authority, I understand that it will do its best to help him, subject to the statutory restrictions on disclosure of information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he has given to river authorities on the prosecution of industrial undertakings responsible for polluting rivers; and what estimate he has made of the effects of their decision to abandon prosecutions on his policy of getting severely polluted watercourses cleaned as speedily as possible.

The answer to the first part of the question is "None, Sir"; and to the second that my right hon. and learned Friend is not aware of any decision by a river authority to abandon prosecutions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ensure that future projects of new town corporations for expansion beyond their existing boundaries are discussed at their inception with the county planning authorities affected so that such schemes may be considered in the context of the county structure plan.

Early consultation with local planning authorities has been the usual practice and I have no wish to change this. A recent circular on the relationship between new town master plans and structure plans stressed the need for collaboration between local planning authorities and development corporations, but new town projects cannot always await the completion of structure plans.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities as well as the borough of Lewes applied too late for parish council status; and if he will give an assurance that the Local Government Boundary Commission will give consideration to any applications it receives from the new district councils under the Local Government Act 1972 before 31st July and announce its recommendations before the end of 1974.

Four. Under Section 48(8) of the Local Government Act 1972 the new district council will have the duty of considering a request for parish status and, by Section 48 (9), the Boundary Commission will have the duty of considering the district council's report thereon. But I cannot at present forecast the programme of the Boundary Commission's work.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Sandford Report on future policy regarding National Parks and the countryside will be published.

As soon as possible, allowing for current printing difficulties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he anticipates receiving the report of the Historic Buildings Council relating to the British Railways Liverpool Road Station in the city of Manchester.

The Historic Buildings Council has not been asked to report on Liverpool Road Station, although it has advised that it is of outstanding interest and therefore eligible for grant. My Department's Historic Buildings Bureau has been trying to find a suitable user for it, unfortunately without success so far.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied with the efficiency of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre at Swansea, in view of the delay in issuing a licence in the case about which details have already been sent to him.

I very much regret the delay in the case to which the hon. Member refers and I shall be writing to him about it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which London boroughs have now decided to appoint chief environmental health officials or directors of environmental health; which boroughs have incorporated environmental health in another department under an existing chief officer; and which boroughs still have the matter under consideration.

I understand that the position at 3rd January 1974 was as follows:

A. Separate environmental health departments (some including also other functions) are to be established at the London boroughs of:

1. Barking.

2. Bexley.

3. Greenwich.

4. Hillingdon.

5. Islington.

6. Kensington and Chelsea.

7. Lambeth.

8. Lewisham.

9. Redbridge,

B. Environmental health is to be incorporated in another department, such as the housing or chief executive's department at the London boroughs of:

1. Brent.

2. Camden.

3. Croydon.

4. Ealing.

5. Hackney.

6. Harrow.

7. Merton.

8. Newham.

9. Richmond upon Thames.

10. Southwark.

11. Sutton.

12. Waltham Forest.

13. Wandsworth.

14. Westminster City.

C. Decision not known:

1. Barnet.

2. Bromley.

3. Enfield.

4. Hammersmith.

5. Haringey.

6. Havering.

7. Hounslow.

8. Kingston upon Thames.

9. Tower Hamlets.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of the inconvenience caused to parties by the delay in deciding on the operation of oil storage tanks in Alma Street, Shrewsbury, which was the subject of a public inquiry on 13th September 1973, he will take steps to expedite his decision on this matter stating how the delay in reaching a decision in this case compares with the average delay in deciding on reports of public inquiries.

The decision has now been issued. The appeal to my right hon. and learned Friend was dismissed. The time taken between the lodging of the appeal and the decision was 44 weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the acreage of land covered by the 260 outstanding planning appeals in Bedfordshire.

Planning appeals cover a wide range of different types of development including such things as change of use or minor extensions. The areas of the sites involved are not always quoted on the application or appeal forms. No central record of acreages is maintained, therefore the information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take action to restrain the Hull City Council from building on land outside its jurisdiction without receipt of the necessary planning permission from the responsible council.

This is a matter for the local planning authorities concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to commence building the new National Library; and what estimate of the cost is now under consideration.

Good progress has been made in planning the British Library but the design is not yet finalised. It is not possible, therefore, to estimate when work will start or what the total cost will be.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will investigate the number of new posts created by the regional water authorities and the salary structure of these posts.

As the hon. Member is aware, my right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and Development has undertaken to consider the best way of assembling information about the management structure of water authorities. Account will be taken of the differences between the reorganisation of local government and of the water services. My Department has already pressed on the water authorities the need for economy in staffing. On salaries the National Water Council has conducted a review on behalf of the water authorities to ensure consistency. The salaries themselves are subject to the pay code and to the scrutiny of the Pay Board.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement clarifying the position on loan sanction for the redevelopment of the Portsmouth and Southsea British Rail station site, in view of the recently announced cuts in public expenditure.

No loan sanction is involved. It is for the board to apply to me for investment approval and infrastructure grant if and when it considers it appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a progress report on the steps being taken by Her Majesty's Government to improve urban and rural public transport with special reference to the current energy shortage.

I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member on 16th January.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he can give a definite date upon which the Haslingden bypass will be put out to tender.

Not at present. This scheme is still at a very early stage and has yet to be included in the firm programme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment by how much the average price of a new three-bedroom house increased between 1970 and the latest date for which figures are available.

The average price of new dwellings mortgaged with building societies in Great Britain rose by 98 per cent. between 1970 and 1973. Figures for three-bedroom houses are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement as to the effect on the towns in the Heywood and Royton constituency of the cuts in his Department's expenditure arising out of the statement made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 17th December 1973.

The effect of the cuts in public expenditure will largely be to postpone projects which might have started in 1974–75. Most of such projects in the sphere with which I am concerned are the responsibility of local authorities, the new regional water authorities or publicly owned transport undertakings. The only projects for which I have direct responsibility are roads and it is too soon to determine the detailed implications for individual schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish his conclusions on the result of the public inquiry into the new M180 road bridge over the River Trent.

As soon as possible after I have received the inspector's report on the public inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated total cost of improvements being made at Oak Grove House, Sandhurst; and the separate cost of installing security equipment.

There is no public expenditure involved in the security measures or improvements. The estimated cost to the public purse for maintenance work is £5,500.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the private security firms whose services are used by his Department.

No, but if the hon. Member has a particular matter to raise I would be glad to consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is now prepared to consider the representations of the Camden Council concerning the possibility of a site for the new National Library on surplus railway land in the King's Cross area, where no housing loss or community destruction would be involved.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Lady on 14th December.—[Vol. 866, c. 211.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he can now announce his conclusions on a feasibility study for a new Strensham-Solihull route between the M5 and M42.

My right hon. Friend has decided that a new major route between Strensham and Solihull would not at present be justified but that proposals should be prepared for the improvement of existing roads in the area to relieve congestion, particularly in towns such as Evesham and Alcester. Existing plans for the widening of the M5 and for construction of the M42 route should allow most long-distance traffic to be concentrated on to the motorway network Proposals for schemes on the existing roads in the area will be announced in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now make a statement on his consideration of the proposal to appoint a person with knowledge of the needs of the disabled to the Sports Council.

Yes. My right hon. and learned Friend has appointed Mr. Norman Croucher, a climber and mountaineer, who is at present preparing a guide to outdoor pursuits for disabled persons on behalf of the Disabled Living Foundation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what appointments he has made to the Maplin Development Authority.

I have made the following appointments to the Maplin Development Authority:

Sir Frank Marshall, Chairman.

Brigadier T. F. J. Collins.

Mr. J. Gestetner.

Mr. W. J. Glenn.

Sir Keith Granville.

The Rt. Hon. the Lord Greenwood of Rossendale.

Mr. P. Laister.

Mr. N. N. B. Ordman

Mr. N. J. Payne.

Brigadier Collins has been appointed after consultation with the Essex County Council; Lord Greenwood after consultation with other local authorities—including the Kent County Council—and with amenity societies in Essex and Kent; and Mr. Ordman and Mr. Payne after consultation with the Port of London Authority and the British Airports Authority, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the present approved establishment for nurses in the hospitals in Fife; and what, at the latest convenient date, is the number of nurses in post.

There is no approved establishment as such. At 31st December 1973 the number of nurses in post in hospitals in Fife was as follows:

Qualified nurses and midwives	972
Nurses and midwives in training	427
Nursing auxiliaries—nursing assistants	588
Total	1,987

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the implementation of the Melville Report on the teaching of mentally handicapped children.

The views of the General Teaching Council for Scotland on the recommendations relating to the registration of teachers are expected in the early part of this year and appropriate training arrangements will be planned as soon as possible thereafter. The legislative provision recommended is embodied in the Education (Mentally-Handicapped Children) (Scotland) Bill, sponsored by the hon. Member for Midlothian (Mr. Eadie) and due to have its Second Reading on 1st March.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he hopes to complete his studies of the possible introduction of community service orders in Scotland and on identifying effective non-custodial penalties, such as community youth service, for the use of the courts in appropriate cases, in the light of the results of pioneer schemes, initiated by the Home Office, under the Criminal Justice Act; and if he will make a statement.

The present experiments on the use of community service orders and day treatment centres in England and Wales are being monitored by the Home Office Research Unit. I propose to await its findings before deciding whether the range of non-custodial sentences available to the courts could usefully be strengthened in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied that foreign crew members of the accommodation ships in Nigg Bay are subject to effective health examinations.

Crew members of the accommodation ships in Nigg Bay are seamen in transit and as such are not subject to medical examination by the immigration authorities. I am satisfied that if a crew member falls ill effective medical treatment is provided. Following the recent diagnosis of tuberculosis in a seaman the local hospital arranged as a precautionary measure for the other members of the ship's crew to be X-rayed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he can now state what effects the public expenditure cuts will have on nursery school building in the county of Lanark.

Projects included in the county's allocation of £1,141,000 for nursery education projects in 1974–75 will be started in the 12 months from 1st October instead of in the 12 months from 1st April.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will recommend to local authorities that they appoint community development officers to areas of social need; and if he will make financial assistance available.

Local authorities and voluntary bodies have already made a number of appointments of this kind. Expenditure on community development is reckonable expenditure for rate support grant, and some staff have been appointed with the help of grants under the Urban Programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what form annual reports of medical officers of health will take in the reorganised National Health Service.

When reorganisation becomes effective on 1st April 1974 there will no longer be medical officers of health. The form of reports and statistical information required in the future will be the subject of discussion with health boards.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the consideration he has given to the level of overseas aid in the light of the prevailing domestic economic situation.

My hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury made clear in his speech on 29th January—[Vol. 868, c. 255]—that all public expenditure programmes are subject to reconsideration, but I have nothing to add to my reply to my hon. Friend on 21st December last.—[Vol. 866, c. 459.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many United Kingdom bilateral aid projects offered to Bangladesh were not taken up because of conditions imposed by the United Kingdom.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the outcome of his visit to Zambia.

My right hon. Friend is stilt in the course of his tour of East Africa He was in Zambia from 31st January-2nd February where he had talks with President Kaunda and other Zambian ministers and had a wide-ranging and useful exchange of views.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what stages have occurred so far in the movement of the EEC towards political union.

The first step towards fulfilling the objective of European Union set by the 1972 summit remains the preparation of the report on this subject which the institutions are to draw up before the end of 1975 for submission to a summit conference.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the private security firms whose services are used by his Department.

Securicor and Burns International.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many individual complaints he has received from the public about the Egyptian Arab Republic's proposal to accredit Mr. Shazly as Ambassador to the United Kingdom.

We have recieved 8 letters from members of the public and 28 letters from Members of Parliament, of which 14 referred to representations from the same source, about the nomination of General Shazly as the new Egyptian Ambassador.

asked the Prime Minister whether, during his most recent discussions with the TUC, proposals were put forward for amending the Industrial Relations Act.

No.

asked the hon. Member for Chelsea as Second Church Estates Commissioner what is the current value of the investment of the Church Commissioners in the New River Company Ltd.

The Commissioners hold £252,420 of 7½ per cent. convertible unsecured loan stock 1982–85 of the New River Company with a present value of about £300,000. They do not own any share of the equity in this company.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the private security firms whose services are used by his Department.

Yes; firms within the Securicor group of companies, Chubb Alarms Limited and Mono Security Alarms Limited.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the statutory provisions under which local authorities are enabled to provide free television licences for pensioners out of the rates.

Local authorities which are social service authorities within the meaning of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 have powers under Section 45 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 in relation to elderly persons and under Section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 in relation to handicapped persons, including those who are elderly.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the incidence of (1) birth wastage (stillbirths and infant mortality under one year) per 1,000 births and (2) of perinatal mortality (stillbirths and infant mortality under one week) per 1,000 births in England and Wales for each of the years 1953 to 1972, inclusive.

Following are the figures:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the incidence of premature births (births under 2,500g) per 1,000 births, per 100 live births, and per 1,000 stillbirths in England and Wales for each of the years 1953 to 1972, inclusive.

Following are the figures:

ENGLAND AND WALES
Year	Premature births per 1000 births	Premature births per 1000 livebirths	Premature births per 1000 stillbirths
1953	8	8	337
1954	8	8	335
1955	8	8	342
1956	8	8	340
1957	8	8	355
1958	8	8	365
1959	8	8	369
1960	8	8	386
1961	8	8	402
1962	8	8	417
1963	7	8	432
1964	7	7	440
1965	7	7	452
1966	7	7	475
1967	7	7	488
1968	7	7	515
1969	7	7	560
1970	8	8	577
1971	7	7	562
1972	7	7	604

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the incidence of (a) neonatal mortality (infant mortality under four weeks) and (b) infant mortality (under one year) per 1,000 live births, per 1,000 premature live births and per 1,000 other live births in each case, in England and Wales for each of the years 1953 to 1972, inclusive.

Following are the figures:

ENGLAND AND WALES
		(a) Neonatal Mortality			(b) Infant Mortality under One Year
Year		Per 1,000 live births	Per 1,000 premature live births	Per 1,000 other live births	Per 1,000 live births	Per 1,000 premature live births	Per 1,000 other live births
1953	…	18	266	19	27	403	29
1954	…	18	259	19	25	373	27
1955	…	17	250	19	25	360	27
1956	…	17	248	18	24	348	25
1957	…	16	237	18	23	333	25
1958	…	16	236	17	23	329	24
1959	…	16	236	17	22	330	24
1960	…	16	231	17	22	325	23
1961	…	15	228	16	21	318	23
1962	…	15	226	16	22	325	23
1963	…	14	217	15	21	321	23
1964	…	14	217	15	20	312	21
1965	…	13	204	14	19	299	20
1966	…	13	198	14	19	292	20
1967	…	13	194	13	18	284	20
1968	…	12	187	13	18	276	20
1969	…	12	180	13	18	269	19
1970	…	12	181	13	18	267	20
1971	…	12	183	12	18	275	19
1972	…	12	175	12	17	261	18

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the incidence of stillbirths per 1,000 births, per 1,000 premature births, and per 1,000 other births in England and Wales for each of the years 1953 to 1972, inclusive.

Following are the figures:

ENGLAND AND WALES
Year	Stillbirths per 1,000 births	Stillbirths per 1,000 premature births	Stillbirths per 1,000 other births
1953	22	297	24
1954	23	299	25
1955	23	292	25
1956	23	294	25
1957	22	282	24
1958	22	274	23
1959	21	271	23
1960	20	259	21
1961	19	249	21
1962	18	240	20
1963	17	232	19
1964	16	227	18
1965	16	221	17
1966	15	210	17
1967	15	205	16
1968	14	194	15
1969	13	179	14
1970	13	173	14
1971	12	178	13
1972	12	166	13

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what progress has been made in the assessment of equipment which enables deaf people to communicate using the ordinary telephone network; if he expects the Exeter University team to produce interim reports; and if he will make a statement;(2) how many items of equipment are being assessed by the Exeter University project into communications systems to enable deaf persons to communicate on the ordinary telephone network; what precautions are being taken to make sure that all possible items of equipment are investigated; and if he will make a statement.

The Institute of Biometry and Community Medicine at Exeter University has made a study of existing telecommunications systems suitable for use by deaf people and a clinical and sociological study of a known population of deaf and hard of hearing people to assess their overall medical and social needs. The latter study is still in progress. The study of telecommunications systems is complete and we expect to receive the final report shortly. The institute examined various systems capable of operation over public telecommunications networks but did not undertake field trials and technical assessment of individual items of equipment. The project team decided on the field of study and I am advised that the report will give a broad outline of the systems, about six in all, which are either currently available or in an advanced state of development. It is not possible to guarantee inclusion of every item of available equipment but to the best of the team's knowledge it considered all feasible methods of telecommunications for deaf people.

asked the Minister for Energy if he will make it clear to petrol stations that they need not limit the use of tyre pressure units to conserve electricity, in view of the danger of low tyre pressures to motorists.

My Department has issued a general licence permitting electricity to be used to operate compressed air outlets on garage forecourts for this purpose. I am asking the Motor Agents Association to draw its members' attention to this licence.

asked the Minister for Energy what was the outcome of his discussions with the oil companies about the possibility of speeding the arrival of North Sea oil through the use of mobile rigs and tankers in place of fixed platforms and pipelines.

All possible methods for overcoming delays in the North Sea oil programme are under examination by my Department.

asked the Minister for Energy what steps he is taking designed to get British involvement in the supply and laying of the onshore pipeline to carry the gas from the Frigg field in the North Sea.

I am satisfied that the British Gas Corporation has fully recognised the desirability of giving British industry a full opportunity of participating in this project.

asked the Minister for Energy if he will make a statement on his discussions with the British Steel Corporation, Sir Marcus Sieff of Marks and Spencer, and the National Farmers' Union on ways in which waste heat can be used to provide heat for glasshouses and other food production uses.

I have had no such discussions.

asked the Minister for Energy under what circumstances firms are permitted to use electricity for production purposes on Sundays.

The use of electricity on industrial premises on a Sunday is permissible where electricity has normally been used on those premises over the past year for at least one productive shift on each of the seven days of the week. The number of hours of use on the Sunday must not exceed those for which electricity was normally used for similar purposes but electricity cannot be used between 1200 and 1430 hours.

asked the Minister for Energy if he will list the private security firms whose services are used by his Department.

The services of Securicor and Peak Security Services are used at certain establishments in the provinces under arrangements made by my Department; the services of Property Guards Ltd. are used under arrangements made by the Department of the Environment at a suburban site largely occupied by my Department.

asked the Minister for Energy, in addition to the 7 million units of electricity saved each week since 1st January as a result of the 10.30 p.m. terminating of television viewing, how much has been saved by other restrictions on the broadcasting media; what percentage these savings represent of total electricity consumption in these weeks; and what percentage they represent of million tons coal equivalent held by power stations.

There are no other restrictions on the broadcasting media but the prohibition on the use of electricity for heating—except for a period of eight hours at night—affects television studios. The saving achieved by this cannot be separately identified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce early legislation to give statutory force to his proposals for dealing with the dangers of the transport of toxic chemicals and oils on the road, as promised arising out of the Adjournment debate on 6th March 1973 initiated by the hon. Member for Bilston.

Regulations were made in December 1973 governing the conveyance by road of organic peroxides. Regulations relating to other substances will follow as soon as possible. In the meantime I welcome the arrangements made by the Chemical Industries Association for providing round-the-clock advice on dangerous chemicals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the private security firms whose services are used by his Department.

Lamond Security Group, Securicor Ltd., and Security Express Ltd.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that it is in the national interest for dairy producers to change to beef production.

A balanced expansion of efficient production in both these important sectors of agriculture is desirable. Each farmer must of course be free to choose the enterprises on which he may want to concentrate.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give for each of the last 10 years the relative figures for increased production costs, and the size of the award made in the price review.

The information is as follows:

£ million
	Cost increases
	All products	Guaranteed production*	Review award
1964	31	24	31
1965	37	29	10·5
1966	42	32	23
1967	20	15	25·5
1968	87	68·5	52·5
1969	53	40	34
1970	81	60·5	53·5†
1971‡	217	141	138
1972	56	48·5	70·5
1973	217§	—||	—||
* Commodities of the description and quantities for which guaranteed prices are provided.
† One-year increases in the fertiliser and lime subsidies were estimated to provide a further £10 million. In addition an increase of £20million to be spread over two years in the rates of the main agricultural capital grants—not included in the value of the guarantees—was announced.
‡ These figures include the adjustment to the guarantees made in October 1970.
§ This figure was calculated before authorised increases at the start of 1973. If these were effective over a full year they would represent a further cost increase of about £68·5 million.
|| No longer calculated.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the private security firms whose services are used by his Department.

The services of Securicor Ltd. and Securiwise (Woking) Ltd. are used to a limited extent by my Department to control access at two establishments. The courier services of Security Express Ltd. are also used over a single route.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the rise in food prices between October 1964 and June 1970; and what was the rise up to January 1974.

Between October 1964 and June 1970 the food index rose by 31·1 per cent. It rose by a further 48·7 per cent. up to the end of 1973.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will publish in convenient form the print order for each of the reports of the Expenditure Committee since it was set up in 1971, the date of publication of each report, and the total number of each sold, as distinct from distributed to hon. Members and others free, at 31st December 1973.

HCP		Title		Date of Publication		Print Quantity	Copies sold up to 31st December 1973
EXPENDITURE COMMITTEE REPORTS
1970–71
295	…	Special Report	…	25th February 1971	…	1,750	385
304	…	1st Report	…	7th April 1971	…	1,500	486
436	…	2nd Special Report	…	16th June 1971	…	1,500	359
545	…	2nd Report	…	25th August 1971	…	1,500	446
549	…	3rd Report	…	13th September 1971	…	1,800	497
1971–72
17	…	1st Special Report	…	18th November 1971	…	1,600	379
18	…	2nd Special Report	…	22nd November 1971	…	1,500	382
19	…	3rd Special Report	…	23rd November 1971	…	1,500	653
47	…	1st Report	…	16th December 1971	…	2,500	452
48	…	4th Special Report	…	7th December 1971	…	1,500	352
62	…	3rd Report	…	24th February 1972	…	2,000	312
141	…	2nd Report	…	23rd February 1972	…	2,000	619
172	…	4th Report	…	29th March 1972	…	1,800	430
344	…	5th Report	…	8th August 1972	…	2,200	312
347	…	6th Report	…	26th July 1972	…	2,265	805
450	…	7th Report	…	20th September 1972	…	2,200	459
451	…	5th Special Report	…	3rd August 1972	…	2,000	375
476	…	6th Special Report	…	9th August 1972	…	1,500	394
515	…	8th Report	…	23rd November 1972	…	2,050	623
516–1	…	9th Report	…	14th December 1972	…	1,825	366
1972–73
48–1	…	1st Report	…	20th December 1972	…	3,350	1,814
57–1	…	2nd Report	…	18th January 1973	…	5,600	1,908
60	…	1st Special Report	…	20th December 1972	…	1,500	118
61	…	2nd Special Report	…	20th December 1972	…	1,500	267
147	…	3rd Report	…	22nd February 1973	…	1,700	374
148	…	4th Report	…	8th March 1973	…	1,780	449
149	…	5th Report	…	22nd February 1973	…	1,700	420
182	…	6th Report	…	12th April 1973	…	1,780	549
209	…	8th Report	…	4th July 1973	…	1,700	338
213	…	3rd Special Report	…	12th April 1973	…	1,500	376
214–1	…	7th Report	…	10th May 1973	…	1,850	392
269	…	9th Report	…	1st June 1973	…	1,740	334
349–1	…	10th Report	…	23rd July 1973	…	5,340	972
352	…	4th Special Report	…	4th July 1973	…	1,300	374
398	…	11th Report	…	3rd August 1973	…	1,750	411
399	…	12th Report	…	22nd August 1973	…	2,775	620
1973–74
8	…	1st Special Report	…	9th November 1973	…	1,400	395
29	…	1st Report	…	6th December 1973	…	1,765	340
30	…	2nd Special Report	…	26th November 1973	…	1,400	275