asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many applications have been received to date under the provisions of Section 7(1) of the Local Employment Act 1972 for a grant to be made for a supply of gas to new industrial projects; and how many have been approved.

Only three such applications have been received. One was withdrawn, one was rejected, and the other is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the number of times deficits of the National Coal Board have been written off since 1946, giving dates in each case and the amount involved, the total amount of funds made available to the industry and the amount repaid and the total tax paid by the board during the past 28 years.

The information is as follows (as at 31st March 1973):1. Deficits have been written off on four occasions:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what action he proposes to take about the price of gas oil for central heating which has increased from about lop a gallon to 20p within less than a year:

The price of landed crude oil has more than trebled over the past 12 months. Consequent increases in the overall price of oil products, including gas oil, were subject to the approval of the Price Commission. We have, in addition, control over maximum retail prices for petrol, derv and paraffin in the United Kingdom, but I do not think there is a case at present to extend this control to other oil products.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the expected yield to the National Coal Board of a 48 per cent. increase in coal prices in the Midland fields and 28 per cent. elsewhere to industrial users; and what differential remains between coal and oil prices to industrial consumers on the assumption that crude oil is available at (a) $7 a barrel, (b) $8, and (c) $10.

The increase in the prices of coal to industrial users recently announced by the NCB are expected to yield £270 million in a full year. With these increases the average delivered price of power station coal will be equivalent to 4·3p a therm and the price for coal delivered to other industrial users will be equivalent to 5p a therm.The main oil product used by industrial consumers is fuel oil. As a residual product, its price is not necessarily proportional to the cost of crude oil. It is normally agreed between the supplier and the consumer and depends upon the type of fuel, location of supplier and consumer, volume bought, method of delivery and other relevant considerations.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what proposals he has for abolishing the surcharge on coal produced in Scotland.

NCB's pricing in individual coalfields has reflected the costs of production. The recently announced price increases in industrial coals will bear more heavily on coal from Yorkshire and Midlands and have substantially diminished pricing differentials.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the estimated cost to industry of the proposed increase in coal prices.

The average increase in industrial coal price is £3·10 a ton. NCB disposals to this market were 10·3 million tons during 1973. Thus an eventual increase in cost of just under £32 million a year might be expected.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will take measures designed to ensure that there will be four months' supply of coal in stock by November 1974.

The balance between coal availability and consumption is not expected to be sufficient to enable total coal stocks to reach the equivalent of four winter months' supply by November 1974. But my Department will encourage adequate stockpiling and the NCB is doing everything possible to increase supply for both consumption and rebuilding stocks.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if it is his intention to formulate proposals for energy saving in the autumn and winter of 1974–75; and if he will make a statement.

The action needed to improve efficiency in the use of energy will extend well beyond next winter; but in arriving at my proposals I shall, of course, take into account the short-term requirements for next winter and the experience of the last few months.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he can estimate currently known recoverable coal reserves in Scotland.

The NCB estimates the reserves accessible to currently working collieries in Scotland at about 230 million tons, but unproven reserves are far in excess of this figure.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give a list of the relevant Acts controlling the exploration and exploitation of oil and gas resources on land in the United Kingdom.

The Petroleum (Production) Act 1934 provides for the grant of licences for exploration and production. Conditions of licences are contained in model clauses prescribed by regulations under the Act. The operations of licensees are subject to requirements imposed under other enactments, including the following:

• Town and Country Planning Act 1971.
• Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972.
• Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) Acts 1951–61.
• Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) (Scotland) Acts 1951–65.
• Water Act 1945.
• Water Resources Act 1963.
• Water (Scotland) Acts 1946–67.
• Pipelines Act 1962.

asked the Secretary of State of Energy if he will publish the terms and conditions and locations of oil and gas exploration rights already granted on land in the United Kingdom.

Rights are granted by way of licences, the terms and conditions of which are set out in model clauses prescribed by the following regulations made under the Petroleum Production Act, 1934:

• The Petroleum (Production) Regulations 1935.
• The Petroleum (Production) (Amendment) Regulations 1954.
• The Petroleum (Production) (Amendment) Regulations 1957.
• The Petroleum (Production) Regulations 1966.
• The Petroleum (Production) (Amendment) Regulations 1971.
• The Petroleum (Production) (Amendment) Regulations 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will examine the economic feasibility of the Severn Barrage Scheme in the light of higher energy prices and dwindling supplies of energy and increasing demand.

Officials have recently reassessed the economic feasibility of the Severn Barrage Scheme and have concluded that it could not be competitive with alternative sources of power. The position is being kept under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will formulate plans to ensure that maximum facilities are provided at the earliest opportunity for the construction of concrete platforms for oil rigs at suitable deep-water sites on the Scottish coast for use in the development of North Sea oil resources.

In planning the provision in Scotland of deep-water construction sites for concrete oil production platforms it is necessary to take account of the environmental and social factors involved and this is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland. I am, however, conscious of the need for a supply of these platforms if we are fully to exploit our North Sea oil resources and I am reviewing the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what progress he has made in his discussions with the United States of America regarding the discrimination practised by United States oil-rig operators against supply ships of other than United States nationality; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.No such discussions have taken place. Where United States oil rigs operate in the North Sea area, I have no evidence of discrimination against United Kingdom vessels. However, if the hon. Gentleman has any evidence of such discrimination I shall be glad to consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received about the water charges proposed by the Welsh Water Authority; and if he will make a statement.

I have received representations from right hon. and hon. Members, local authorities, the Farmers' Union of Wales and other bodies.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has received a memorandum from the Farmers' Union of Wales concerning the discrepancy between the charges for metered water supply per 1,000 gallons in areas of wales served by the Severn-Trent Water Development Authority and areas served by the Welsh National Water Development Authority; and if he will take action to redress the situation.

The General Secretary of the Farmers' Union of Wales has written to me about increased water charges proposed for 1974–75 and their effect on the agricultural industry. The Chairman of the Welsh National Water Development Authority has told me that he will recommend to the authority that the proposed charges for 1974–75 should be modified so that in no area will the charge to metered consumers exceed 50p per 1,000 gallons.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will set up without delay a team in the Welsh Office to develop an economic plan for Wales.

The Welsh Planning Board comprising officials of the Welsh Office and other economic departments in Wales already exists and meets regularly to consider all aspects of the Welsh economy.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to announce his intentions regarding implementing the report on bilingual traffic signs.

Soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if, in view of the change over from parish councils to community councils on 1st April, he will delay the public inquiry into the proposed Glangrwyncy to Gavilon link road by one month.

No, Sir. I am satisfied that adequate notice of the inquiry has been given and that the new councils should be in a position to present their views to the inspector. A postponement now would in practice lead to a delay probably until next autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will request the Welsh Council to study ways of assisting young people wishing to enter the agriculture industry.

This raises issues of wider concern than to Wales alone and I do not consider it would be appropriate to ask the Welsh Council to study them, although I am fully mindful of the problem.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has for a meeting with the Construction Industry Training Board.

The Training Services Agency of my Department, which, on 1st April 1974, will be established as a statutory organisation responsible to the Manpower Services Commission, is in close touch with the Construction Industry Training Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the average weekly earnings of all categories of male manual workers over 21 years of age, including agricultural workers, at the latest available date.

The latest available estimates covering employees in all industries relate to April 1973 and were obtained from the New Earnings Survey. The figure for full-time manual men whose pay for the survey pay period was not affected by absence was given in my reply to the hon. Member's Question on 19th March.—[Vol. 870, c. 61.] Corresponding figures for other categories of manual men aged 21 and over are:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many adult workers underwent training or further training under Government auspices, in each year since 1965.

The following table gives numbers of men and women, both able-bodied and disabled, who completed a training course under the Department of Employment's Vocational Training Scheme in the period January 1965-July 1972 (VTS), and under the Department's expanded Training Opportunities Scheme (TOPS) from August 1972-December 1973:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of persons in the United Kingdom who are (a) self-employed, (b) employed and members of trade unions, and (c) employed and not members of trade unions.

The estimated numbers of employers and self-employed persons in the United Kingdom at June 1972 was 1,892,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the output per head in money terms of all the main groups of manual workers including the agricultural workers, headed by those with the greatest output per head, at the latest available date.

It is regretted that the information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give consideration to the granting of concessionary television licences to certain categories of retirement pensioners.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy with regard to the granting of concessionary television licences to all retirement pensioners who are householders.

My right hon. Friend considers that it is better to give all retirement pensioners additional cash resources which they can spend as they please, as will be done by the pension increases announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many retirement pensioners are currently obtaining concessionary television licences; what is the cost of this; and what he estimates would be the cost of making television licences available to all pensioners at concessionary rates.

The information is not available in the form requested. On 31st December 1973 there were in force 36,000 television licences issued to blind people at the concessionary rate, but it is not known how many of those people were pensioners or had pensioners living with them. On the same date there were 195,000 people licensed to receive television in old persons' homes at the rate of 5p per person. If all of them had been required to be covered by licences issued at the full rates the licence revenue would have been about £1 million higher. I estimate that making television licences available to all retirement pensioners free or virtually free would reduce licence revenue by about £30 million a year at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many petitions requesting cheaper television licences for retirement pensioners his Department has received in the last six months; and how many he has received from within the Ripon constituency.

Two. Neither of them was from within the Ripon constituency.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the present housing situation and the desire of police officers to acquire their own homes, he will consider advising chief constables to relax the existing practice whereby police officers are required to move their place of abode at frequent intervals.

The general practice of chief officers of police is to avoid frequent movements. Transfers requiring removal of an officer's home are limited to cases where this is needed on operational grounds or is in the interest of the career or the welfare of the officer concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek powers to require that, in respect of all police forces, intelligence services and others engaged in prosecuting criminal cases, no investigation should be made of the political background, allegiances or activities of those called or about to be called for jury service with a view to objections being made to their acting as jurors in specific cases, and that where such inquiries have taken place no files will be kept on the persons concerned.

I am not aware that there is any such practice. If my hon. Friend has evidence of it perhaps he will send it to me.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will immediately make available in Wales a fourth television channel for the transmission of Welsh language programmes produced by both the BBC and ITV, which could be supplemented, as necessary, by English language programmes of particular interest to Wales.

The report of the Committee on Broadcasting Coverage is expected in the summer. We shall take decisions about broadcasting in Wales only after considering any recommendations the committee may make, against the background of the future of broadcasting as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to make any changes in the terms of reference of the Committee on Broadcasting Coverage; and when he now expects it to report.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "No". The committee is expected to report in the summer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that, due to a dispute with the Home Office over the on-call duties performed with wireless grade members of the Civil Service Union, there has been no on-call service available to police and fire brigades; what discussions he has had with the Civil Service Union on this matter; and what action he is taking to resolve the dispute.

Yes, and I deeply regret the situation which has arisen. The dispute arises over a centrally-negotiated agreement on compensation for on-call duties which applies to the whole of the non-industrial Civil Service; it is not a matter that can be settled separately by the Home Office. My officials are in touch with those in the Civil Service Department who are responsible for the negotiations with the National Staff Side and every effort is being made to resolve the dispute.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what categories of people are eligible for concessionary television licences; and if he will consider embracing groups such as the deaf, dumb and disabled.

Blind people not resident in a public or charitable institution or a school can obtain television licences at a fee £1·25 less than the standard fee, by virtue of Section 2 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 as amended by the Wireless Telegraphy (Blind Persons) Act 1955. The licensing requirements for old people's homes are such that residents in some homes receive what are in effect concessionary television licences; details are contained in Statutory Instrument 1970 No. 548. My right hon. Friend has no plans to seek authority to issue concessionary licences to other categories of people.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his Department's establishment of veterinary officers in the county of Northumberland; whether all posts in that establishment are filled; and whether he is satisfied that the number of such officers is sufficient to maintain the programme of work arising out of the brucellosis eradication scheme.

At present one divisional veterinary officer and three veterinary officers are engaged on field work in Northumberland and one divisional veterinary officer and two veterinary officers are at the Veterinary Investigation Centre at Newcastle. There are three vacancies.While progress continues to be made in the eradication of brucellosis in Northumberland there is a need to provide more veterinary staff to deal with both brucellosis eradication and the other demands made on them.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the shortages of building materials, he will extend the date deadline of 1st July 1974 under the Diseases of Animals (Waste Food) Order 1973 for the carrying out of improvements by pig farmers.

We are aware of the difficulties that some farmers may experience because of shortages of building materials and we shall be reviewing the situation overall at the end of April but it is essential that swill collectors and processors meet the requirements of the 1973 order as quickly as possible. Even if it were decided to allow a transitional period for cases of genuine difficulty, the plant and premises must meet at least the standards set out in the current Diseases of Animals (Waste Food) Order 1957.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what views his Department expressed to the county planning authority on the suitability of land at Wollaton farm, St. Mellion, Cornwall, for development as a golf course.

The county planning authority was told that my Department had considered this proposal in the light of the Government's policy for the safeguarding of agricultural land and it was not proposed to enter an objection providing the grant of planning permission was subject to detailed conditions which would retain as much of the land as possible in agricultural use and ensure continued access to it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has received the Joint Report of his Department and the National Farmers' Union Horticulture Committee into the glasshouse industry in relation to fuel oil costs and if he will make a statement.

There is no joint report as such. We are, however, urgently considering the facts presented by our officials after discussions with the National Farmers' Union and will announce our decision when we have completed this consideration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce a capital grant scheme to enable British glasshouse users to convert from oil to natural gas.

Grants for this purpose are already available under the Farm and Horticulture Development Scheme and the Horticulture Capital Grant Scheme.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce a heavy fuel oil subsidy for British glasshouse producers.

I am not yet in a position to add to the reply I gave on 21st March to my hon. Friend the Member for Ormskirk (Mr. Kilroy-Silk).—[Vol. 870, c. 138.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the number of occasions on which there has been a major outbreak of potato cyst eelworm in the United Kingdom.

Potato cyst eelworm is a pest that is well established and widespread in various parts of the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of potatoes which may not be planted by gardeners and allotment holders from 1st July 1974 in accordance with EEC Directive 69/465;(2) what representations he has had from gardeners concerning EEC Directive No. 69/465 due to come into force in the United Kingdom on 1st July 1974;(3) how it is proposed that EEC Directive 69/465 controlling from 1st July 1974 types of potatoes that may be planted by gardeners and allotment holders should be enforced; and if he will make a statement;(4) if he will take steps within the EEC to set aside the implementation of EEC Directive 69/465.

EEC Directive 69/465 is concerned with the control of potato cyst eelworm and was given effect in Great Britain by the Potato Cyst Eelworm (Great Britain) Order 1973; EEC Directive 69/464 on the control of potato wart disease was given effect in Great Britain by the Wart Disease of Potatoes (Great Britain) Order 1973.The orders contain various provisions for the control of the potato cyst eelworm and wart disease. One of those in the Wart Disease of Potatoes (Great Britain) Order 1973 restricts, as from 1st July 1974, the planting of potatoes in gardens and allotments to varieties immune to wart disease. In this respect the order extends the previous Scottish controls to first earlies and applies that system to England and Wales.Amongst the better known varieties of potatoes the following are not immune to wart disease:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that it will be an offence to grow King Edward potatoes after July; what penalties are to be inflicted on those convicted of growing them; and if he will make representations to the EEC regarding this directive.

Under legislation for the control of potato wart disease, the planting of non-immune varieties of potatoes—of which King Edward is one—has, in certain circumstances, been an offence in Great Britain for a number of years.The latest measure containing such restrictions is the Wart Disease of Potatoes (Great Britain) Order 1973 which gives effect to EEC Directive 69/464. Anyone failing to comply with the requirements is liable on summary conviction to a penalty not exceeding £100 or, in respect of a second or subsequent offence, to a penalty not exceeding £200.We have no proposals to make representations to the EEC on this directive.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the Government's decision to refer no more wages to the Relativities Commission, he will instruct the Agricultural Wages Board to consider the inadequacies of agricultural wages in relation to the recent settlement of the mineworkers' claim.

The Agricultural Wages Board for England and Wales is an autonomous body and it would not be proper for me to intervene in this way. It is for organisations concerned to present their views on wage levels to the board and for the board to fix minimum rates.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce legislation banning importation of eggs and poultry meat from those countries which freely allow the use of antibiotics in poultry feed; and if he will make a statement.

No. The use of antibiotics in poultry feed for laying birds is controlled by EEC legislation. Imports of poultry meat and of eggs from countries which do not control the use of antibiotics arc not significant. In these circumstances we do not consider that a ban would be justified.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the value and volume of pigmeat imports during the past three months, and for the corresponding period 12 months ago; and what assessment he has made of the likely impact on pigmeat imports arising from the decline in the national pig breeding herd over recent weeks.

Imports of pigmeat of all kinds in the three months ending 31st December 1973 totalled 78,000 tons, worth £52 million. Figures for the corresponding period of 1972 were 103,000 tons, worth £44 million. No reliable estimate is yet available of the change in the size of our breeding herd since December 1973 and the precise effect on our pigmeat imports of any decline in the breeding herd depends on a number of unpredictable factors.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in view of the difficulties faced as a result of the freeze on rents by housing associations whose rents have never included any profit element, whether he will take action to ensure that adequate funds are made available to enable housing associations to meet their financial commitments.

I am willing to consider what action might be possible if there is evidence that the rents standstill is causing serious financial difficulties for housing associations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, for the removal of doubt, he will make clear that there is exemption from the present rent standstill for that element of the rent which is directly and solely attributable to rate increases.

The standstill orders on rents do not apply to any sum attributable to rates in an inclusive rent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total amount of Exchequer and rateborne subsidy on local authority housing in England and Wales for each of the latest convenient three years; and what was the total value of tax relief and option mortgage subsidy to mortgagors in each of the same years.

The figures are as follows:

(a) Exchequer and rate-borne subsidy on local authority housing in England and Wales (including rate rebate subsidy):

(b) Estimated tax relief on mortgage interest for house purchase and option mortgage subsidy in England and Wales:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what will be the support per head of population payable under his rate support grant proposals for each local authority; and how this compares with that proposed by the previous Government.

The total of rate support grant payable to each local authority in 1974–75 is not yet known; it depends on the rates to be levied by the authority. However, the needs and resources elements, which in total amount to about 85 per cent. of the rate support grant, will be distributed exactly in accordance with the proposals of the previous Government. The new proposal only redistributes some £219 million out of the total rate support grant of £3,076 million.The differences in grant per head of population by non-metropolitan counties and metropolitan districts under the new proposals for a flat rate domestic relief compared with those of the previous Government's scheme for variable relief are:—

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what will be the effect of his new proposals for the rate support grant for all local authorities in Westmorland, stating on the basis of the most up-to-date figures available the new sum of money to be paid, the amount which will have to be raised locally compared with the previous position, and the effect on ratepayers of the new proposals.

The new local authorities whose areas most closely correspond with that of Westmorland are Eden and South Lakeland in the new County of Cumbria. Under the previous Government's proposals, domestic relief in these districts

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the total number of public sector houses completed in each year from 1965 to the present date by the following housing authorities, respectively, namely, Newark Borough Council, Newark Rural District Council, and Southwell Rural District Council.

I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will extend the present control on business rents beyond the end of May, bearing in mind the repercussions that any major increase this year would have on small firms.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith) on 20th March.—[Vol. 870, c. 109.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give in respect of the Greater London area the comparative figures on 31st December in 1954, 1964, 1969, and 1973 for the following: the totals of habitable dwellings, the totals of families or, if these are not readily available, the totals of population, the totals of homeless families, and the cumulative totals of families on the waiting lists of the London boroughs.

The available estimates are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review the legally permitted maximum speed limit for road vehicles through the village of Ship-ton near York on the A19 road.

I know of no reason to do so, but if the hon. Member has a particular point in mind I shall consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy towards creating an underpass at the junction of the North Circular Road and the Great Cambridge Road, Edmonton; if he will list the objections received to the proposal; and if he will make an early statement on this subject.

Following the publication of proposals in September 1973, 48 objections were received, including a petition with 1,528 signatures. These are being considered. Apart from points of detail the objectors question the size of the scheme and its effect on property and the environment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now announce his decision on the route for the Canterbury bypass.

Following a feasibility study by independent consultants into possible routes for a Canterbury bypass comments were invited by means of a consultative document from the public, local authorities and other organisations concerned. After taking into account all the relevant factors including comments arising from the public consultation procedures, I have decided that Route B, the middle one of the three routes proposed, should be preferred. A bypass scheme on Route B has therefore been included in the trunk road preparation pool so that detailed design, including such aspects as the standard of construction of the road, can proceed to the publication of draft order proposals under the Highways Acts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will indicate continuing Government policy towards railway financing.

The Government will continue to support British Railways' finances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue progress reports about the Channel Tunnel project.

The programme for the Channel Tunnel project is currently under examination and a statement covering this and other aspects will be made shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement with regard to the recovery by municipal authorities of lands sold off between 1970 and 1974, and give an estimated total capital value.

This information is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when work on the Bridistowe Bypass will start.

A local public inquiry into the draft orders has been arranged for 23rd April. A start of work is subject to completion of statutory procedures, land acquisition and availability of funds. This is unlikely to be before early 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if there have been any changes in the plans for dual carriageways between Exeter and Launceston and if he will make a statement.

There are no plans at present to change the standards of road improvement between Exeter and Okehampton; studies are still proceeding on standards of improvement between Okehampton and Launceston.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take steps to modify the cost-price yardstick so as to encourage a revival in local authority building.

I am considering as a matter of urgency all possible steps to reverse the decline in local authority house-building and I am also studying the question of the housing cost yardstick.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what direct contacts have been initiated by his Department with manufacturers of industrial sealed recirculatory cooling systems with a view to discovering the practical benefits of the system.

None. It is for the manufacturers to persuade potential users of the practical benefits of such a system.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will list the local planning authorities which have so far published consultative documents relating to their proposed structure plans, those which have completed the consultation process and have published a revised document to be presented to him, and those which have published no documents at all to date.

The following 13 authorities have not only completed the consultation process but also submitted structure plans for all or part of their areas to my right hon. Friend:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy regarding the preparation of regional strategies to define growth areas as guidance for the drafting of structure plans; and whether he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend will encourage the continued preparation of regional strategies as a framework for the production of structure plans. The strategies will not be confined to the definition of growth areas, but will address themselves to all the broader physical and economic planning problems of the regions for which they are produced.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he will list the public hearings under the Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Act 1972 which have so far taken place, indicating the date in each case, the names of the participants granted locus standi, and the number of days on which the hearings took place; and whether he will list the future hearings for which he has so far set firm dates, giving the names of the local planning authorities in each case;(2) whether he will list the structure plans which have now come to him for final decision, the public hearing having been completed; and by what date he anticipates announcing his decision on each one.

Two examinations in public have been completed. The Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire structure plans were examined in public together, on 20 days between 13th November and 19th December 1973. My right hon. Friend has recently received the report of the panel holding the examination and is now considering his decision, which he hopes to issue in the early summer of this year. The Worcestershire structure plan was examined in public on 15 days between 15th January and 7th February 1974.My right hon. Friend is awaiting the panel's report. He cannot anticipate when he will be able to give his decision but it is his intention to avoid delay.A number of examinations in public will take place towards the end of this year but no firm dates have as yet been fixed.As the lists of participants at the two examinations already held are lengthy, I will be sending them to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will outline the progress made in each region of England towards the publication of regional planning strategies, indicating the actual date of publication, the date of his formal decision on the strategy, or, in the case of uncompleted studies, the date of expected publication.

The state of progress on planning strategies in each region of England is as follows:

NORTHERN REGION: A team to draft a strategy has been commissioned jointly by my Department, the Regional Economic Planning Council and the region's existing structure planning authorities and is now being recruited. Its work is expected to take some two and a half years.

NORTH-WEST REGION: A strategic plan has been drafted by a team commissioned on a similar tripartitie basis and publication is expected in the second half of April. My right hon. Friend will in due course give his views on the proposals in the light of comments received from everyone concerned.

YORKSHIRE AND HUMBERSIDE REGION: A strategy to 1981 prepared by the Economic Planning Council was approved in July 1971 in general terms by the previous administration who asked however for certain further studies. The Economic Planning Council is in process of discussing with the new county councils the question of revisions to the strategy in the light of the results of those studies. It is expected that a further submission will be made within the next two years.

WEST MIDLANDS REGION: A strategy prepared by the West Midlands Planning Authorities Conference was submitted to the then Secretary of State in November 1973 and approved by him, with comments and reservations, in January of this year. The strategy was published on 8th March.

EAST MIDLANDS REGION: A study by the Regional Economic Planning Council was published in 1969 and has been followed by local authority sub-regional studies for Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire-Derbyshire. No formal strategy for the whole Region is so far projected.

EAST ANGLIA REGION: A team commissioned jointly by central Government, the Economic Planning Council and the existing structure planning authorities has completed a strategy report which will be published in the late summer for public comment.

SOUTH-WEST REGION: The Economic Planning Council's strategic settlement pattern is expected to be published shortly. Further publications recommending strategic policies for particular sectors of the regional economy will be produced in due course.

SOUTH-EAST REGION: The Strategic Plan for the South-East, produced by a joint team under the aegis of central Government, the Standing Conference of London and South Eastern Planning Authorities, and the South-East Economic Planning Council, was approved by the then Secretary of State in October 1971. A monitoring group has produced a first report on the strategy—published in May 1973—and is continuing to assess the strategy, in consultation with the Standing Conference.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is now in a position to give the date of completion and opening to public use of the 13-mile section of the M3 to Sunbury.

The contract provides for completion on 30th May but, because of the recent energy crisis, the contractor has requested an extension of time which is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has caused a delay of about eight years in settling the amount of betterment levy due on the estate of the late Mrs. A. M. Abrahall; and when executors may expect settlement of this matter.

The former Land Commission assessed betterment levy on the executors in June 1970 in respect of a sale of land in May 1969. When statutory objections against the levy were lodged by the executors, the district valuer reopened his negotiations with the levypayers' agent about valuations. Their differences could not be resolved until test cases on similar levy assessments were referred to the Lands Tribunal. The executors' agent has recently agreed valuations with the district valuer, and if the executors agree with their agent's view there remains no obstacle to early settlement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement as to his consideration of the interim report of Mr. George Dobry, Q.C., on Review of the Development Control System.

I greatly welcome Mr. Dobry's valuable interim report and look forward to receiving final fully worked out recommendations after he concludes his further investigations, consultations and hearings of oral evidence. Meanwhile, I have agreed to practical testing of some of his proposals and am ensuring that everything possible is being done to expedite appeals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is yet able to announce a date for the start of construction on phase II of the Hoddesdon relief road in Hertfordshire.

Hertfordshire County Council, the highway authority for this principal road scheme, is now considering tenders for its construction.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will announce the names of the present rent assessment board for the Cumbria area, their qualifications, the amount of travelling and other allowances, and the average number of meetings to date; and if he will make a statement.

I assume it is the rent scrutiny board for Cumberland and Westmorland that my hon. Friend has in mind. The chairman and members of the board are listed below.

• Chairman: J. Johnston, JP, FRICS.
• R. Smalley, TD, FRICS.
• Col. T. H. H. Hodgson, DSO, MC, TD.
• E. J. Capstick, AR1CS.
• G. E. N. Watson, FRICS.
• R. C. Sutcliff, FRICS.
• G. D. Windle, FRICS.
• R. K. Slater, JP.
• H. W. Whitehead, JP.
• W. A. Carrick.
• M. Munro, JP.
• W. R. Foster, JP.
• A. Pennington, JP.
• N. Hewitson, OB, JP.
• L. T. Hall.
• W. L. R. Mather, JP.
• R. J. S. Addison.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of 75 per cent. improvement grant applications which were outstanding with local authorities to the latest conveient date.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is yet in a position to announce the name of the local government ombudsman for the Cumbria area; and if he will make a statement.

Not yet. Before any local commissioner can be appointed the representative body for England must be set up. The organisations concerned have been asked urgently for their views on the constitution of this body, and I hope to make the necessary designation order very soon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will amend his proposals for rate relief so as to ensure that the benefits to the ratepayers of Tipton, Wednesbury and West Bromwich are similar to those received by ratepayers in other urban areas.

The domestic rate relief is now the same for all districts in England. It was under the previous administration's proposals that some areas did better than others.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT those local authorities which will have their rate relief reduced by the introduction of the 13p flat rate compared with the previous proposals.

The local authorities in England whose domestic rate relief will be reduced by the introduction of the 13p flat rate compared with the previous proposals are:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish the result of the public inquiry on the Ambleside bypass.

This is a principal road scheme for which the highway authority is Westmorland County Council. I am considering the inspector's report following a public inquiry into the council's planning application arid hope to announce a decision shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if work on the Levens link road in Westmorland is being completed according to the agreed timetable; and when he expects the road to be opened.

Yes. September 1974, provided that no unexpected problems arise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when work commenced on the Avon Bridge sector of the M5; what its present stage is; when the original completion date was expected to be; and when it will now be completed.

Work commenced on the Avonmouth Bridge, which is of box girder construction, on 1st September 1969. The steelwork is now approaching completion with the closure of the gap between the main boxes, but the steel plate battle deck has still to be constructed between boxes on the main span.The original forecast completion date was 1st September 1972. The current forecast completion date is 1st September 1974, but we are striving for the earliest possible finish.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the members of the Commission for Local Administration in England to be appointed; and how soon he anticipates that the commission will be ready to receive representations regarding maladministration by local authorities.

Before any local commissioner can be appointed it is necessary to consult the representative body. This body has not yet been designated because I have been awaiting the views of the interested parties on its constitution. I hope that the designation order can be made within the next few days. As soon as the order has taken effect, I shall consult the representative body as to the choice of the chairman of the English Commission and one other local commissioner. The appointment of further commissioners will depend on the number of complaints received.In order to be investigated by a local commissioner, a complaint must relate to maladministration occurring on or after 1st April 1974.