asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received concerning the holding of a referendum at the conclusion of the renegotiation of the terms of entry into the EEC.

We have received a number of letters from members of the general public expressing their views on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations he has had with the Government of the Irish Republic about EEC membership.

The Government are keeping in close touch with the Government of the Republic of Ireland on EEC matters of mutual interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he can now say by what date he hopes to have completed his renegotiation of the terms of entry into the European Economic Community.

As my right hon. Friend told my hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Short) on 27th March—[Vol. 871, c. 118.] —we are not proposing a fixed timetable for the renegotiation and it is impossible to forecast with any accuracy the date by which our renegotiation discussions will be complete.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations he has had with the Danish Government about Her Majesty's Government's policy of renegotiation of the terms of EEC membership.

My right hon. Friend had useful discussions with the Danish Foreign Minister on 2nd May. We are also maintaining close contact through the normal channels.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress that has been made in the renegotiation with the European Community; and what timetable he has in mind for a completion of the renegotiated terms.

I refer my hon. Friend to my replies to earlier Questions this afternoon on the renegotiation of the United Kingdom's terms of entry into the EEC.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement about Great Britain's relationship with Portugal.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what official communications he has had with the new Government in Portugal.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations with Portugal, in the light of the overthrow of the former regime.

We recognised the new regime in Portugal on 2nd May and have entered into normal working contacts with it. We welcome its introduction of civil liberties and its promise of free elections within a year. We look forward to having good relations with the new appointed Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will now stop the contribution made by the Government to the European Movement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply given on 1st May to a Question from the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten).—[Vol. 872, c. 463.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to ascertain, in connection with the ban on direct arms selling by Great Britain to Syria, the scale and type of arms manufactured in Great Britain that have found their way to Syria through third countries not affected by the ban; and if he will make a statement.,

I have no evidence that British arms have reached Syria through third countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the New Zealand Government about changes in arrangements for access of butter to Community markets; and if he will take action in consequence at the EEC.

We have already had discussions with the New Zealand Government and these are continuing. The Commission has proposed, and we agree, that it should do a study on the impact of increases in New Zealand's production and freight costs. We shall, of course, consider the position in the light of this and other relevant factors.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy towards the retention of the British sovereign bases in Cyprus.

The Base Areas are sovereign British territory. Their use will be examined in the same way as other aspects of our defence commitments and capabilities in the course of the review announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 21st March.—[Vol. 870, c. 153–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about relations between the United Kingdom and Indonesia.

It is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to strengthen the present close and friendly relations with Indonesia, including our economic relations, following the successful State visit in March; and particularly in the context of Indonesia's standing with Commonwealth Governments in the area and its role in the United Nations and other international organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will next be meeting the French Foreign Minister.

My right hon. Friend looks forward to maintaining close contact with the French Foreign Minister and expects to see him at the meeting of the Council of Ministers in Luxembourg on 4th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Commonwealth countries have informed him that they would prefer association or special arrangements with the United Kingdom outside the EEC to association with the enlarged Community.

None. This issue has not been put to them in the discussions that are taking place.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the review of the effect of Community policies on the United Kingdom will be completed; and in what form he intends to publish it.

We are continuing to examine the effect of Community policies on the United Kingdom. Our conclusions will be taken into account in the proposals my right hon. Friend will be putting to the EEC Council of Ministers. We do not propose to publish details of the matters we have been examining.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to seek to pay an official visit to the Republic of South Africa.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what study he has given to the contract between the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and Rio Tinto Zinc Ltd., for supplies of uranium oxide from Namibia.

I have nothing to add to my statement on 30th April.— [Vol. 872, c. 444.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guidance he is giving to ambassadors about the interpretation of United Nations Resolution No. 242.

My right hon. Friend made clear to the House on 19th March that Her Majesty's Government believe that a Middle East settlement will come through the full implementation of Resolution 242 and that such a settlement will have to take account of the fundamental principles of that resolution.—[Vol. 870, c. 871–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in view of the persecution of minority groups of writers, Jews and Baptists in the USSR, if he will now cancel the forthcoming visit of the Bolshoi ballet to Great Britain.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence he has about the level of terrorist activity inside Rhodesia.

I have seen reports in the Press about the security situation in Rhodesia which seem largely to be based on statements by the Rhodesian regime. I have no independent evidence to corroborate these.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the estimated effects sanctions have had on United Kingdom trade with Rhodesia since their introduction; and, from the representations the Government have had from United Kingdom exporters and importers, if he can also make an estimate of the possible growth pattern of trade which would follow any settlement leading to normal trading relations.

With the exception of the very small licensed trade in permitted items there has been no trade between the United Kingdom and Rhodesia since the imposition of sanctions. In 1965 United Kingdom imports from Rhodesia were valued at £29.2 million and United Kingdom exports to Rhodesia at £31.5 million. The amount by which our trade might have grown or diminished had sanctions not been in force can only be a matter for speculation and I am unable to estimate what the pattern of the growth of trade might be following a settlement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Common wealth Affairs whether he will raise at the Security Council the killings of civilians by Arab terrorists at Kiryat Shmoneh and Ma'alot, the same posing a threat to world peace.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Bury and Radcliffe (Mr. Fidler) on 20th May.—[Vol. 874, c. 29.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he can now make a statement on Government policy towards the illegal regimes in Rhodesia and Namibia; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans Her Majesty's Government now have to seek a settlement with Rhodesia.

In Rhodesia we will accept no settlement that does not enjoy the support of the African majority there, who must clearly play a major part in working out its terms.As regards Namibia, the Government have already made it clear that policy towards Namibia is one of the matters currently under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made upon behalf of Miss Susan M. Allinson of Bradford following the refusal of the East German authorities to allow her fiancé to join her in England, or to permit her to marry him in the GDR; what reply he has received; and if he will make a statement.

Since February 1973 continued representations have been made in London and East Berlin to the East German Government about British nationals, including Miss Allinson, who wish to marry GDR citizens and settle in the United Kingdom. Our Ambassador in East Berlin made special representations about an exit visa for Miss Allinson's fiance on 30th April. We shall continue to pursue the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representation he intends to have at the proposed United Nations World Food Conference in Rome in November 1974.

It is planned that the United Kingdom delegation to this conference will be led by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. He will be supported by officials from relevant Departments.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had on the plight of the Biharis in Bangladesh; whether the International Committee of the Red Cross is still providing aid; whether the British Government are assisting and, if so, in what way; and if he will make a statement.

I discussed the question of the Biharis with Dr. Kamal Hossain, Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, during Dr. Hossain's visit to London early this month. I understand that the International Committee of the Red Cross, to whose relief activities in the sub-continent Her Majesty's Government have made substantial financial contributions, has now handed over its relief work among the non-Bangalees in Bangladesh to the Bangladesh Government and to certain welfare agencies. The International Committee of the Red Cross continues to assist the United Nations High Commission for Refugees in the transfer of populations between Pakistan and Bangladesh. RAF aircraft made a substantial contribution to this transfer.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set up a standing advisory committee or working party to advise his Department on matters relating to the United Nations Law of the Sea Conference, in view of the range of trade and industrial interests within the United Kingdom which may be affected by decisions arising from the conference.

My Department is in close touch, either directly or through other Government Departments, with industrial, commercial, fishing and other interests which will be affected by the conference. I am satisfied that a standing committee is not necessary for this purpose. As my hon. Friend is aware, a consultative conference was held on 15th May, and I am considering holding a further conference after the Law of the Sea Conference at Caracas.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures have been initiated by the Government to deal with the current problems of international terrorism, especially the hijacking of aircraft; and if he will make a statement.

Her Majesty's Government keep all measures for countering terrorism and hijacking under constant review. The details of those measures are, however, necessarily confidential. Her Majesty's Government co-operate with other Governments in such matters,, and have played a leading part in international discussions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average cost per square foot of hiring office accommodation in London, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen for the use of the Government.

The average cost per square foot of hiring office accommodation for the use of the Government in the following locations is: —

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in view of the role of the Channel Tunnel as a sunken roll-on/roll-off vehicle ferry, whether it is his policy to apply safety recommendations to it comparable to those in Merchant Shipping Notice No. 673, particularly in regard to hazards to the general public from petrol spillage and explosion in confined spaces.

I do not accept the hon. Member's description of the Channel Tunnel and I ask him to await the outcome of the current studies and assessments. Safety matters will be the responsibility of the operating authority and a binational safety commission and, when established, I would expect them to draw up appropriate regulations to deal with these points.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if it is his intention to provide 100 per cent. Government grant for rent rebates resulting from the deferment of the 50p rent increase in April.

Up to 80 per cent. of a local authority's shortfall of rent income resulting from the rent freeze will be borne automatically by housing subsidies from central Government funds. The precise amount of assistance for any individual authority will depend upon its entitlement to housing subsidies and the state of its housing revenue account. We are considering whether we should make any special provision in respect of the balance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he has given to rent officers in the application of paragraph 4(3) of the Counter-Inflation (Private Sector Residential Rents) (England and Wales) Order 1974, particularly in regard to the question of the increase of the counter-inflation limit to take account of the cost of any improvements to a dwelling-house.

Rent officers have been reminded that only the courts have jurisdiction to say how any provisions of the Counter-Inflation (Private Sector Residential Rents) (England and Wales) Order apply in an individual case. But rent officers have also been told that it is the view of the Department that rent increases following improvements are permitted to take place by virtue of Article 4(3) of the order.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT (a) the number of new dwellings completed and (b) the number of old dwellings demolished in the first four months of 1973 by local authorities.

Local authorities in England and Wales reported the completion of 16,000 new dwellings during the first quarter of 1973 and the demolition or closure through slum clearance of 15,100 houses. Slum clearance action statistics are collected quarterly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which department of the Civil Service will move to the 140,000 square feet of accommodation at Fleet Bank House; and what other accommodation at present occupied by the Civil Service will be released as a result of the move.

Fleet Bank House will be occupied by the Ministry of Defence (Procurement Executive), whose staff will move from several premises. Of these the lease on one, Princes House, will shortly expire; the vacated space in the others will be used to meet the needs of other Departments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council houses were sold in Suffolk in each year since 1967 up to the latest year for which figures are available.

Local authorities in West and East Suffolk, including Ipswich county borough, reported the following numbers of dwellings sold:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will move to set up a Select Committee into the rating system.

Our immediate priority must be to improve the distribution of the rate support grant for 1975–76. But as my right hon. Friend told the hon. Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. Ridley) on 8th May—[Vol. 873, c. 145.]—he does not rule out the possibility of a more thoroughgoing long-term review of the rating system and I note my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to compel all adult persons who enter into possession of dwelling-houses as squatters to notify the appropriate local authority of their names and the date of their entry into possession.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people are now employed by local authorities, including the new water authorities; and how this compares with the figure before the reorganisation of local government.

I cannot add anything to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member on 9th April.—[Vol. 872, c. 119–20.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is estimated to be the total wage and salary bill for permanent local government staff in 1974–75 as compared to 1973–74; and what percentage increase this represents.

No separate estimate has been made by my Department of the cost of staff for local authorities in 1974– 75.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make a statement on the areas proposed to be included in the West Midlands green belt;(2) if he proposes to make any changes in the areas to be designated permanent and interim green belt from those set out in the statement by his Department on 14th August 1973.

I hope shortly to complete my consideration of objections to the proposed modifications published in August 1973. An announcement will be made in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has carried out any further studies on the areas which it was proposed to designate as interim green belt in the Department's statement on the West Midlands green belt on 14th August 1973.

Such studies will be undertaken by the local planning authorities in the preparation of structure and local plans for the areas concerned. Structure plans covering nearly all of the West Midlands have already been submitted to me for approval.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will estimate the number of road injuries and deaths saved whilst the 50 mph speed limit was imposed in the winter of 1973–74.

It will be several weeks yet before casualty figures for the whole period are available. There were, however, many factors besides that of the 50 mph speed limit which influenced road safety.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take action to reduce the waiting time for driving tests in the Bristol area.

Since the beginning of this year the average waiting time in Bristol has been reduced from 17 to 13 weeks. Additional examiners are being recruited for the Bristol centres.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated number of vehicles that will be using the Addington to Maidstone section of the M20 in 1980 and 1990 if the Channel Tunnel is built and if it is not.

Predicted traffic flows on the basis of a 16-hour average August day are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the total number and salaries of officials of the Humberside County Council, and the approximate corresponding figures for the same area before reorganisation.

The information is not available in my Department. There are particular difficulties in comparing the position before and after reorganisation where entirely new authorities have been created, as in the case of Humberside, but the hon. Member may care to approach the county council direct for the information he is seeking.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will institute an inquiry into future transportation requirements in Yorkshire and Humberside and the North-West prior to embarking on any further motorway schemes.

No. I sec no need to add to our present procedures for inquiries into proposals for new motorways.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the programme of work for 1974 for the EDC for Building and each of its sub-committees and working parties;(2) whether he will list the reports of the Economic Development Committee for Building, and its sub-committees or working parties, which were produced in 1973, and to the latest convenient date in 1974; and what action has been taken in respect of each report.

My right hon. Friend is not responsible for the work of the EDCs, but I will ask the Director-General of the NEDO to write to the hon. Member about the points he has raised.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of alkali inspectors there are in post; how this compares with the establishment; and how these figures have varied over the last five years.

There are 37 inspectors in post with one vacancy. The figures for the previous five years are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of separate establishments under the supervision of the Alkali Inspectorate; and how this number has varied over the last five years.

There are 2,158 works registered under the Alkali, &c. Works Regulation Act 1906. At the end of the years 1968–1972 the figure stood at 1,793, 1,691, 1,621, 1,875 and 2,170 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many visits have been paid by qualified alkali inspectors to each of the former Benfleet, Canvey Island and Thurrock urban districts and, since 1st April, to their successor districts, in each of the past five years; how many complaints have been made to his Department and the Alkali Inspectorate by these local authorities and private individuals about offensive smells; what action was taken in regard to such complaints; how many monitoring stations are now in use in these areas; and where these are located.

I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he can now state what plans he has to introduce legislation to make compulsory the wearing of seat belts in the front seats of cars.

In the Road Traffic Bill, which was introduced in another place on 15th May, I am seeking powers to introduce compulsory wearing of seat belts by means of regulations. If these powers are enacted I shall consult with various interests on the form of these regulations, and in particular on the need to exempt some groups from them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he can now give local authorities the further guidance promised in Department of Environment Circular 60/74 about levels of expenditure likely to be available for local authority transport in 1975–76.

I shall decide later in the year the total amount of local authority expenditure in 1975–76 that can be accepted for transport supplementary grant, in the light of the submissions made to me and in the context of wider Government decisions about public expenditure and rate support. The only prudent assumption now is that there will continue to be severe limitations on public expenditure, and many competing priorities. Even if it were possible to support as much overall expenditure on local transport purposes in 1975–76 as in 1974–75, differences in relative priorities would mean that some counties would have to make do with less. I must, therefore, look to local authorities to consider what would be minimum levels of expenditure. My Department's regional offices will be ready to help local authorities to consider the implications for their grant submissions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many gallons of water per year are pumped out of the Rivers Dee, Wye and Severn, respectively, outside the borders of Wales, for use outside Wales.

While no precise figures are available, it is estimated that total quantities of 34,000 million, 2,400 million and 30,200 million gallons per year are abstracted from the Rivers Dee, Wye and Severn, respectively, outside the borders of Wales, for the purpose of public water supply outside Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of the present state of arrangements for the collection and disposal of rubbish, he will take into account in forming his policy on this matter the survey of the Consumer Association in the May issue of Which?; and what results followed the report of the departmental working party of 1971.

The responsibility for the collection and disposal of rubbish rests with local authorities who will make arrangements having regard to local needs and circumstances. If each local authority wishes to take into account the survey of the Consumers' Association in the May issue of Which? this is a matter for the authority. The recommendations of the report of the Working Party on Refuse Disposal are being taken into account in the Control of Pollution Bill now before Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the proportionate increase in water and sewerage charges currently being experienced in the areas now served by the North-west Regional Water Authority; and how this compares with the charges made by the old local authorities.

Increases in water supply charges by the North-West Water Authority range from nil to 47 per cent. in respect of water rate poundages and from nil to 46 per cent. in respect of charges by metered quantity. I have no comparable figures for the 1974–75 charge for sewerage, sewage disposal and certain minor services formerly provided by river authorities. There were no charges for sewerage services in 1973–74 separate from the general rate. Comparison of the sewerage charge in 1974–75 with the sewerage element of the general rates in 1973–74, identified on rate demand notes, would suggest a wide range of increases. The best indication of the general increase which ratepayers are being called upon to pay probably lies in the increase of about 51 per cent. in estimated expenditure on these services throughout the region.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the reasons for the increase in water and sewerage charges since the creation of the new regional water authorities.

Levels of water and sewerage charges are primarily a matter for the individual water authorities, subject of course to the provisions of the Price Code. There are, however, a number of general reasons for increases in water services expenditure this year in England which are reflected in water and sewerage charges levied by water authorities. On the information available to me, the most important seems to have been the need for the water authorities to make provision at higher rates of interest for the servicing of debt both on past capital expenditure and on new capital expenditure in 1974–75 to which the authorities have already been committed. The authorities have had to make sufficient provision in their budgets to enable them to fulfil their statutory obligations to break even on revenue account and to make adequate allocations to reserve, the whole of which must be recovered by charges under the terms of the Water Act 1973. Most water supply charges have been frozen for two years as a result of the previous administration's counter-inflationary policy, and in the process balances have generally been exhausted. No balances have been taken over for sewerage services. The water authorities are having to start to restore necessary revenue balances as well as to incorporate two years' increases in costs in their budgets. An important factor is the additional expenditure this year arising from water services reorganisation and the establishment of the new administrations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will supply the details of pollution measuring points that are located in the city of Birmingham;(2) if he will supply statistics on pollution in the city of Birmingham; and how these statistics compare with those in the country as a whole.

The information which my hon. Friend seeks will take some time to collect from a number of sources. I shall write to him when it is available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will arrange to publish pollution levels likely to be produced by the proposed Aire Valley motorway.

This is not practicable, since the degree of atmospheric pollution depends not only on the volumes and types of traffic but also on weather conditions and the local topography.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the anticipated level of usage of the proposed Aire Valley motorway and the A650 and A629 in its presence;

Traffic predictions will be provided as necessary in the statement of case for the road at any local public inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make available (a) the anticipated motorway construction and maintenance costs, (b) the anticipated land acquisition and compensation costs, (c) the anticipated costs of rehousing displaced people and (d) the anticipated value of benefits to traffic on the M650, A650, A629, and other principal roads in Airedale in terms of reduction in travel time, and reduction

The present estimates of cost—at 1973 price levels—for the published route from Baildon to Snaygill are (a) construction about £30 million and maintenance about £3,000 per mile annually,(b) and (c) £5 million, including just under £1 million for rehousing displaced people. The information requested at (d) will be made available in the statement of case for the road at any local public inquiry, where it can be read in conjunction with other interpretative data.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will list the working parties and advisory committees of his Department currently in existence which have as members of them persons other than civil servants, indicating in each case when each was set up and when it is intended that it shall report.

The information for which the hon. Member asks is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, of the 531 million wine and spirit bottles used in 1972 in the United Kingdom, what percentage went to waste after use or were recycled as cullet; and what proposals he has for the avoidance of the loss of this element of national resources.

I have been asked to reply.No figures are available on the proportion of used wine and spirit bottles going to waste or recycled as cullet.My Department is keeping in close touch with a study recently started by the drinks manufacturers to examine the possibility of reusing or recycling empty bottles. The results of this study are expected by the middle of the summer. The Government are also actively considering machinery to provide a greater degree of co-ordination on waste reclamation as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, of milk bottles used at the latest date for which figures are available, what percentage of rejected bottles were returned as cullet.

I have been asked to reply.I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what tonnage of milk bottles is produced in the United Kingdom annually and similar figures for plastic milk cartons which are designed for rejection after use; and if he will further indicate the average number of times a 12 oz. milk bottle is likely to be used.

I have been asked to reply.The annual production of glass milk bottles is about 167,000 tons. Similar details for non-returnable plastic containers are not available. The life of a glass milk bottle averages 25 trips.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, pur-

pursuant to his answer [OFFICIAL REPORT, 21st May 1974], circulated the following information:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make available to objectors copies of the 25 inch to one mile maps used by the North Eastern Road Construction Unit for the proposed Aire Valley motorway.

Provisional maps may be seen during working hours at the Road Construction Unit in Harrogate. The detailed design to this scale will not be settled until the route has been fixed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of alternative routes to the proposed Aire Valley motorway.

No. This would only add to the blighting effects inevitably caused by publication of the current proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the present total traffic flows between Skipton and Kild-wick, Kildwick and Steeton, Steeton-Silsden and Keighley, Keighley and Bingley, Bingley and Shipley and Shipley and Bradford inner ring road;(2) if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the total traffic flows on other principal roads in Airedale.

The information relating to two-way traffic flows during a typical 16-hour day in the summer of 1969, the latest date for which comparable data can be given, is:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what reply he has sent to the letter dated 9th May from the Hertfordshire County Council in regard to the proposed expansion of Stevenage; and if he will ensure that there is continuous consultation in this matter with the county council in its role of local planning authority with statutory responsibility for the preparation of a structure plan.

I am sending the right hon. and learned Member a copy of the reply which has been sent to the Hertfordshire County Council. I share his view that there should be full consultation between the Stevenage Development Corporation and the county council, and I am satisfied that the development corporation will do all it can to achieve this. But it must be for the corporation to make the running on proposals for expansion.

Ewing asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will troduce legislation to permit drift net fishing for salmon and migratory trout this parliamentary Session.

In view of the risk to stocks presented by this method of fishing I am not prepared to consider the removal of the present prohibition.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the provisions relating to responsibility for safety that would apply to a petrochemical development at Hunterston, and for liability for compensation in case of an accident affecting the people of the area.

Relevant provisions are contained in the Petroleum (Consolidation) Act 1928, which governs storage, and in the Factories Act 1961, which governs operations. There are a number of other statutory provisions which might apply—e.g., Clean Air Acts 1956 and 1968; Offices Shops and Railways Premises Act 1963; Occupiers' Liability (Scotland) Act 1960; Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) (Scotland) Acts 1951 and 1965; Public Health (Scotland) Act 1897. The general law of reparation for damage to persons or property would apply.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Scottish fishermen were lost at sea or died of injuries received at sea in the years 1969 to 1973; and whether the deaths took place inshore in near-middle or distant waters.

I refer to the reply I gave on 11th April to my hon. Friend the Member for Kingston upon Hull, West (Mr. Johnson).—[Vol. 872, c. 337–8.]