asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make diplomatic approaches to Commonwealth countries in connection with the possibility of a Commonwealth force for the restoration of legal government in Rhodesia, and the supervision of a peaceful transition to majority rule.

No. The Government are not prepared to intervene militarily in Rhodesia either on their own or as part of a Commonwealth force.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government regard as valid passports or other official documents issued by the Turkish authorities in Northern Cyprus.

No. Her Majesty's Government accept as valid only the passports issued by States recognised by Her Majesty's Government. However, the Turkish Cypriot authorities issue a "travel document" which, though it is not accepted as being the equivalent of a national passport, is considered as meeting the requirements of paragraph 4(2) (a) of Schedule 2 of the Immigration Act 1971 and therefore as establishing the identity of the holder. The holders of such documents may be admitted to the United Kingdom provided they satisfy the requirements of the immigration rules.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has had any communication from the new regime in the Argentine concerning the Falkland Islands, and its future constitutional position.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Common- wealth Affairs whether there are any refugees from South Vietnam remaining in Hong Kong; and what their prospects are for the future.

There were 37 refugees from South Vietnam remaining in Hong Kong at the beginning of this month. Of these 18 have applied to settle in the United States, Australia, Austria or Germany. Eight others wish to return to Vietnam. Any refugees eventually remaining will be allowed to settle permanently in Hong Kong, if they so wish.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what obstacles prevent the new Assembly of the New Hebrides from meeting; what steps he is taking to assist in their removal; and when he expects the Assembly to meet.

The first meeting of the Representative Assembly has been delayed by disagreements about the procedure and qualifications for election to the seats reserved for customary chiefs. The British and French Governments are together working to resolve these difficulties with New Hibridean political leaders so that the Assembly can meet as soon as possible on a generally acceptable basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking to improve the quality of the submissions by his department to the annual reports pursuant to Section 22 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 concerning research and development work on equipment that might be of benefit to disabled people; and if he will ensure that possible spin-offs from technological advances are not overlooked.

My Department does no such research and development work and does not, therefore, contribute to the annual reports pursuant to Section 22 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government has now established full diplomatic relations with the Cape Verde Republic.

Her Majesty's Government recognised the Republic of Cape Verde on its attainment of independence, but no decision has yet been taken on the establishment of diplomatic relations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise in the Security Council as a threat to the stability of the Middle East the question of the expropriation of Arab land in Galilee by Israeli authorities, contrary to the provisions of numerous UN resolutions on Palestine.

No, The Security Council is not empowered to discuss the internal affairs of a member State.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to reduce air pollution.

As part of the continuing effort to extend and strengthen air pollution control, I intend to introduce Regulations this year to limit the sulphur content of gas oils, the lead content of petrol and grit and dust in emissions from certain furnaces.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the transport policy review will be published.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish his review of transport policy.

I hope to publish my consultation document on transport policy next week.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with representatives of railway workers in the preparation of his statement on transport policy.

I have kept in touch with the railway unions and with the TUC Transport Industries Committee in the course of the current transport policy review. I shall be consulting them formally on the consultation document which my right hon. Friend intends to publish next week.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to receive the conclusions of the review of the working and effect of that part of the Caravan Sites Act 1968 which concerns gipsies; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Minister for Planning and Local Government gave to the hon. Member for Streatham (Mr. Shelton) on 19th March 1976.—[Vol. 907, c. 662.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish the proposed route and detailed plans for the continuation of the M63 through Stockport, from Cheadle Heath to Portwood.

My right hon. Friend hopes to publish draft proposals under the Highways Acts within the next two months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of the criticism expressed in the recent debate in the Standing Committee on Regional Affairs, he will now ask the Yorkshire and Humberside Economic Planning Council to give further consideration to its report "Regional Strategy Review—the next ten years" and to produce a supplementary report.

No. This review is a midterm revision of the strategy prepared in 1970. In appraising it, the Government will take into account comments made by hon. Members in the two debates in the Standing Committee on Regional Affairs as well as comments made by other interested bodies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies his Department has conducted into the cost effectiveness of thermal insulation on the existing stock of public sector housing.

My Department is engaged in a number of studies into the cost effectiveness of thermal insulation in existing housing. These include the Better Insulated House Programme, which is monitoring the results of introducing higher standards of insulation into a series of housing schemes in various parts of the country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now encourage local authorities to underwrite loans by building societies which are outside their normal lending limits.

Local authorities have powers to guarantee building society loans, and the use of these powers is being discussed between the Building Societies Association and the local authority associations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why he made a further cut in the provision for local authority home loans for 1976–77.

To allow for increased expenditure on the purchase and modernisation of old substandard properties by local authorities and housing associations, I have made a corresponding reduction in local authority mortgage lending. There has been no reduction in public expenditure on housing overall, which remains at 25 per cent. above the 1973–74 level.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many extra units of accommodation have been added to the housing stock by the Government's municipalisation policy.

In England, over 60,000 old and substandard properties have been brought into social ownership in the past two years, 44,000 being purchased by local authorities and some 20,000 by housing associations. In the course of repair and modernisation of these properties, many thousands are converted into additional self-contained units; but I do not have the figures for these conversions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he is giving to the statutory arrangements governing the relationships between Her Majesty's Government and British Rail.

The Government considered these in depth in 1974 and took new powers in the Railways Act 1974 which are consistent with EEC obligations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any new proposals to discourage the use as second homes of houses in rural areas which are suitable and needed for the housing of local people.

The hon. Member will be aware of the measures introduced by the the Government on improvement grants and tax relief on mortgage interest in relation to second homes. I share his concern about housing needs, and we have taken many initiatives to enable them to be met. Municipalisation and modernisation of properties would be one way of acting directly to house families most in need.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he hopes to complete his experiments relating to the improvement of rural transport.

The experiments will begin as soon as feasible when the necessary machinery is established. Completion dates will depend on the nature of the problems identified in the selected areas and the solutions tried out. I envisage that experiments might take place over a period of around two years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has for improving the quality of rural transport.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has for improving the quality of transport in rural areas; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Members to my reply earlier today to the hon. Members for Hereford (Mr. Shepherd) and Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles (Mr. Steel).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the cost of applying EEC Regulation 543/69 concerning drivers' hours.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the cost of applying to Great Britain EEC regulation 543/69 concerning drivers' hours.

Application of the Regulation in its present form would give rise to substantial costs. The actual cost will depend on the amended form finally agreed within the Community.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take steps to provide for the direct election of members of water authorities.

The consultation document on the review of the water industry makes clear that radical changes of this order could be considered only in the context of wider regional arrangements in England.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance his Department is giving to local authorities and water authorities concerning the charges that they now make for sewerage collection and treatment following the House of Lords decision in the Daymond case; and if he will make a statement.

The Water Charges Act makes clear that only connected properties are liable to pay the charge for sewerage and sewage disposal levied by the Regional Water Authorities. It is for each water authority to decide what levels of charges are necessary to meet its statutory obligation to break even. Cesspool emptying is the function of local authorities, which are entitled to make such charges for the service as they think fit. The question of responsibility for sewage disposal is raised for discussion in the consultative document on the review of the water industry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in the case of building a factory to which consent is ultimately given, what, on average, is the time taken to obtain all necessary planning and governmental consents in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Belgium, respectively.

I do not have the statistics, but my right hon. Friend is examining a document which a factory developer has recently sent to him on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the social and economic effects of the sale of council houses.

Not at present. Such social and economic factors are among the issues with which the housing finance review is concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the total proceeds obtained from council and new town house sales in 1972–73; and what was the comparable figure in 1975–76.

In 1972–73, rented houses in England representing an aggregate selling price of about £235 million were sold. Capital receipts in the same year amounted to some £112 million. The corresponding figures for 1973–74 were £98 million and £56 million and for 1974–75 £9 million and £17½ million. The differences mainly represent related advances to purchasers by local authorities. Corresponding figures for 1975–76 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received a letter from the Chairman of the North East Region of Consumer Groups on the subject of appeals in connection with grants of planning permission; and what reply he has sent.

Yes. A reply was sent on 30th March 1976 and I am sending a copy to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is considering measures to encourage the use of the bicycle as a means of transport.

Meeting the needs of cyclists is a local authorities' function. They have to decide how to share available funds among the competing needs for all kinds of movement of people and goods, and what resources to allocate to making it safer for those who wish to cycle.Unfortunately, a cyclist is at least 10 times as likely to become a casualty as a car driver, and the accident statistics for July-September 1975 show that, while pedal-cycle mileage increased by 13 per cent., casualties were up by 23 per cent. to 6,600. But authorities are looking into ways of improving conditions for cyclists by traffic management, and the Government are associated with some experiments for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many vehicle testing centres he has visited officially since he took office.

On 5th April I visited the goods vehicle test station at Yeading and the MOT test centre at Hendon and witnessed the inspection activities carried out at both these establishments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his latest discussions with the building societies.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Kingswood (Mr. Walker) earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Departmental Committee on Direct Labour will report.

It is too early to say when the Departmental Working Party on Direct Labour will report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish the report on councillors' allowances which has been in his possession since 12th September 1975; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend will make a statement as soon as possible, and this will no doubt cover publicity for the report to which the hon. Member refers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is yet able to announce the name of the new Chairman of British Rail.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friends the Members for Derby, North (Mr. Whitehead) and West Stirlingshire (Mr. Canavan).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met the Chairman of British Rail.

On 15th March 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further meetings he proposes to hold with the Chairman of British Rail.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave him on 25th February.—[Vol. 906, c. 358.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is able to clarify the position of the port of Preston in relation to national ports policy; and if he will make a statement.

We have been informed by the Preston Borough Council of the problems it is currently facing and have discussed these with representatives of the Council. My hon. Friend the Minister for Transport has explained that the Council cannot look to national ports policy to provide easy answers and that it is for the Council to decide what course it should best pursue; in all the circumstances it might think it desirable to consider an appropriate degree of retrenchment and reduction of costs to match the levels of trade that it can realistically forecast.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his policy towards British Railways.

This will be settled in the light of the forthcoming consultations on transport policy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment by what amounts the number of dwellings in England and Wales in the last 10 years has exceeded or fallen short of the number of households.

Estimates of total stock of dwellings compared with estimates of potential households show crude differences which conceal local variations and do not take account of the quality of the stock, including dwellings declared unfit. Figures on the surpluses for the last 10 years are given below:

England and Wales
	thousands
1966	180
1967	260
1968	360
1969	430
1970	470
1971	520
1972	520
1973	540
1974	580
1975	650

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on transport for the disabled.

At present, the powers under which local authorities can arrange travel concessions for the disabled are entirely discretionary. I am reviewing the position with the local authority associations. Responsibility for matters concerning invalid tricycles and disabled persons' mobility allowance, rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the reduction in numbers of employees of British Rail from nationalisation to the latest convenient date.

410,074 in all. Some 26,600 of this total comprise staff who were transferred to the National Freight Corporation on 31st December 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he proposes to help the private landlord in advance of his review of the Rent Acts.

I refer the hon. Member to my speech in the Supply debate on rented accommodation.—[Vol. 907, c. 1352–66.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out the figures being used by his North-East Road Construction Unit to support its proposals relating to the Aire Valley trunk road; and on what assumptions their projections of future traffic flow are based.

The traffic figures are set out in the statement made by the Department's representative at the public inquiry which opened on 4th November 1975. I am placing a copy in the Library. As explained in the statement, the projections of future traffic flows are based on the lowest of the three rates of growth described in the revised standard forecasts of vehicles and traffic issued by the Department in February 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider reducing the proposed 2,250 per cent. increase in a driving instructor's provisional licence and other related increases.

We have proposed that the fee for a trainee's licence should be increased from £1 to £15, and the period for which it may be held reduced from six to four months, in order to curtail the casual element in the profession. The present fees need raising in total to reflect increases in costs since they were prescribed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest estimate of the costs of all the work carried out in New Palace Yard.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Kinross and West Perthshire (Mr. Fairbairn) on 1st April 1976.—[Vol. 908, c. 533–34.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now make a statement concerning a specific grant to local authorities who have to meet the cost of remedial works in respect of construction containing high alumina cement concrete.

I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, South-East (Mr. Cohen) on 5th April 1976.—[Vol. 909, c. 43–44.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received about the possible standardisation of window frames; how this would influence house building costs; and if he will make a statement.

I have received representations about various matters of concern to the glass industry from the St. Helens branch of the General and Municipal Workers' Union, and I will let my hon. Friend have a copy of our reply. I hope this will cover the points he has in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in order to avoid large legal costs, he will introduce legislation to declare that offshore oil installations outside territorial waters are not liable to pay local authority rates.

No. The position in England and Wales is that installations beyond the low-water mark are not rateable, as indicated in the reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Bedford (Mr. Skeet) on 9th March 1976.The position in Scotland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.—[Vol. 907, c. 149.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will initiate a Government propaganda programme on the need for motorists to effect proper flashing light signals when changing lanes on motorways, in view of the accidents arising from failure to do so.

I accept that there is room for improvement in the giving of signals by direction indicators on motorways and other roads. It would, however, in the present circumstances of financial constraint be difficult to justify diverting resources to a campaign devoted specifically to this subject. The need for correct signalling is stressed in the Highway Code, the official manual "Driving", and in other publicity currently in issue.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy towards the proportion which a company or individual should pay for cleansing work of a river which he is known to have polluted and the percentage to be borne by public funds.

Under the common law a person who has polluted a watercourse may be liable for damages which might include an element for its restoration. It is, of course, a general principle of pollution control practice in this country that the costs incurred in controlling or abating pollution are the responsibility of the polluter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he gives to testers as to the steps they should lake where owners of dangerous vehicles which have failed the test insist on driving them away.

When a vehicle fails a test, the defects are notified to the owner on form VT21. I propose to strengthen this procedure by beginning the issue of a written warning notice if, in the view of the tester, the vehicle is dangerously unroadworthy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to amend Section 52 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 to obtain better handling of redevelopment projects involving existing and proposed theatres; and what further action he proposes to take in order to safeguard the nation's theatres.

No, I have no present intention of amending Section 52. There is a Theatres Bill at present before the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of the Court of Appeal decision in R. v. Secretary of State for the Environment ex Parte Hood 1975, he proposes to introduce legislation to amend the Countryside Act 1968; what advice he proposes to issue to county councils which have yet to publish proposals for reclassifying "roads used as public paths" under the 1968 Act; and what action is to be taken in those cases where reclassification has already taken place.

My right hon. Friend and I have decided not to seek amending legislation to reverse the effect of the Court's decision on the reclassification of roads used as public paths. We are in touch with local authority Associations on the question of guidance to be issued in relation to both past and future reclassifications.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied that the national average council house rent increase of 60p proposed in the White Paper on Public Expenditure is being maintained; and what means he is using to ensure its maintenance.

I am satisfied that the recommended guideline average figure of 60p is being closely observed by those authorities in England—194 out of a total of 367—of whose decisions on rent increases I have so far been informed. Their average increase is just over 59p. Authorities which make their rent increase later in the year will, other things being equal, need to make higher increases to maintain this average over the year as a whole. Special subsidies are available to help and encourage authorities to observe the guideline.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many motorists who believe that their vehicle has been wrongly failed in the MOT test have resorted to the appeals procedure during each of the last five years for which records are available; how many of such appeals have proved successful; and what is the appeals procedure referred to in his answer to the hon. Member for Leicester, West dated 24th March 1976.

The results of appeals made against MOT test during the years 1971 to 1975 were as follows:—

Year	No. of Appeals	No. Successful
1971	120	66
1972	131	75
1973	141	85
1974	105	63
1975	112	68

This represents a success rate of approximately 56 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what acreage has been compulsorily acquired under Section 23 of the Mineral Workings Act 1951 since 1st January 1965.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest official estimate of the net increase in local government staff which has taken place in England and Wales since April 1973, taking into account transfer of National Health Service and water supply personnel.

No figures are available at April 1973.At mid-June 1973 and mid-June 1975, the numbers employed by local authorities in England and Wales, excluding police civilians, cadets, traffic wardens, magistrates' courts, probation and agency staff, were 2,454,000 and 2,572,000 respectively.It is estimated that over this period there was a gross increase in local authority staff of about 208,000. But as some 90,000 employees were transferred to the National Health Service, to the water industry, school health services and passenger transport executives on local government reorganisation in April 1974, the net increase to local government was 118,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the total number of staff employed by local authorities in the United Kingdom for each year from 1960 to 1975; and how these figures were affected by National Health Service and water supply reorganisation in 1973.

The information is as follows:

	000's
1960	1,741
1961	1,788
1962	1,855
1963	1,922
1964	2,000
1965	2,063
1966	2,163
1967	2,253
1968	2,330
1969	2,388
1970	2,431
1971	2,506
1972	2,624
1973	2,741
1974	2,705
1975 (provisional)	2,851

The figure for 1974 excludes a net total of about 48,000 staff transferred to the National Health Service, and about 29,000 transferred to water authorities on reorganisation in England and Wales on 1st April 1974. It also excludes 38,000 health staff and 2,000 employed on water services in Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the total number of people employed in local government, including water boards, for each of the years 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975.

The following numbers were employed by local authorities and water boards in England at mid June each year:

	Thousands
1970	2,061*
1971	2,128*
1972	2,228*
1973	2,336*
1974	2,353†
1975	2,474†
* Includes 8,000 employed by river authorities.
† Includes employees of Regional Water Authorities—at mid June 1975, estimated at 53,400.

NOTE. The 1974 total was affected by the transfer of employees on the reorganisation of local government, the water industry and the National Health Service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what acreage has been devoted to sand and gravel extraction in England and Wales since 1st January 1965.

The information requested is not available. The 1974 Survey of Derelict and Despoiled Land in England indicated that at 1st April 1974 there were 18,171 hectares—44,900 acres—of land affected by active sand and gravel workings and a further 15,230 hectares—37,630 acres—permitted for working but not then affected.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what acreage of sand and gravel workings in England and Wales has been restored to 1st January 1965.

The information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what acreage of sand and gravel workings in England and Wales has been restored to grade 1 agricultural land since 1st January 1965;(2) what acreage of sand and gravel workings in England and Wales has been restored to grade 2 agricultural land since 1st January 1965;(3) what acreage of sand and gravel workings in England and Wales has been restored to grade 3 agricultural land since 1st January 1965.

The information requested is not available in my Department or the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the total financial loss to local authorities in England and Wales due to the rate relief enjoyed by working sand and gravel pits during the financial year 1974–75;(2) what is the estimated total financial loss to local authorities in England and Wales due to the rate relief enjoyed by working sand and gravel pits during the financial year 1975–76;

The estimated reduction in the rateable value of the assessments for sand and gravel workings in valuation lists caused by the Mines and Quarries (Valuation) Order 1971 was £4·3 million at 1st April 1974 and £4·1 million at 1st April 1975. This does not result in a financial loss to local authorities, because the lower rateable value will automatically increase an authority's entitlement to the resources element of the Rate Support Grant.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he is satisfied that present infilling and restoration methods are capable of restoring worked out sand and gravel pits to useful agricultural production; and if he will make a statement;(2) what studies have been made of the long-term effects of present methods of infilling and restoring wet sand and gravel pits to agricultural use.

Present methods do not always succeed. For this reason, experiments into the best means of restoring high quality land to agricultural are being undertaken in co-operation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and the Sand and Gravel Association.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to extend the rating period on sand and gravel pits to cover restoration.

We have no plans to amend the law in this respect, but in certain circumstances a sand or gravel pit will be beneficially occupied during restoration, and will therefore be rateable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated loss in food production due to sand and gravel working in England and Wales during the years 1975–1985.

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

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department was represented at the Council of Europe Ministerial Conference on the Environment held in Brussels on 23rd and 24th March; and if he will make a statement on the outcome of the discussions.

My Department was represented by my noble Friend the Baroness Stedman, who led the United Kingdom delegation. A full and useful exchange of views took place between Ministers present. They agreed on the general principles which should guide them in developing policies for the environment, and approved a number of specific resolutions covering: reconciliation of economic development with protection of the natural environment; protection of wildlife; and voluntary participation in nature conservation. A major outcome of the Conference was Ministers' agreement to the preparation of a legal instrument on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats. At the invitation of the Swiss Government, Ministers agreed that a further conference should be convened in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will announce the new line of route for the proposed Allestree Link Road, Derby.

My right hon. Friend hopes to publish revised proposals this summer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to limit the expenditure of the governing bodies of water and sewerage authorities.

It is for each water authority to decide what levels of expenditure are necessary to meet their statutory obligations. My right hon. Friend does, however, approve the programme of capital expenditure to be undertaken by each water authority, and that expenditure is subject to current restraints on public expenditure generally. It is, of course, essential that the provision of water and sewerage services should as far as possible correspond to the needs of housing and industrial development and public health.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from local authority transport undertakings and from trades unions for further assistance towards meeting transport deficits for the period 1974–75, and also to the latest date for which a financial loss on their undertakings has been assessed; and if he will make a statement.

I have received many such representations regarding both local authority and other bus undertakings, but the allocation of expenditure for bus revenue support for 1975–76 was decided upon within the Transport Supplementary Grant settlement in December 1974 and cannot be altered. The Transport Policies and Programmes submitted to me last summer by County Councils included revised estimates of deficits for 1975–76 and 1976–77 and formed the basis of my allocation of TSG for 1976–77.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to improve the quality of the submissions by his Department to the annual reports pursuant to Section 22 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 concerning research and development work on equipment that might be of benefit to disabled people; and if he will ensure that possible spin-offs from technological advances are not overlooked.

These submissions are compiled from reports supplied by the Directors of the Department's Research Establishments, and by relevant Headquarters Divisions. They have always dealt sufficiently with the significant amount of relevant work conducted by or for this Department.The Department has already been asked to pay special attention to relevant "spin-offs" from other work, and will continue to seek to identify these.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is yet able to publish the report of the recent water survey.

I gave the main results of the lead in water survey in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Newton (Mr. Evans) on 16th December 1975 and in reply to questions by my hon. Friend on 22nd January 1976. The detailed analysis of the results of the survey has however proved more complex and has taken longer than had been hoped, but the full results will be published as soon as possible.—[Vol. 902, cc. 628–30; Vol. 903, cc. 540–43.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue guidance to local authorities on the granting of planning permision for extensions and other modifications to residential buildings in regard to proximity, light restriction, visual amenity and change of use, as affecting adjacent residential buildings.

Advice on planning policy is given by departmental circulars and Development Control Policy Notes, but the application of that advice is within the discretion of local planning authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to distribute to local authorities the leaflet for householders setting out when planning permission is needed and how to obtain it, as announced in Circular 113/75 and further referred to in Circular 9/76.

The leaflet is now in an advanced stage of preparation, but a publication date has not yet been fixed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the projected cost to public funds of sending a British delegation of 21 persons to the United Nations World Conference on Human Settlements in Vancouver from 31st May to 11th June; what benefit he expects the United Kingdom to gain from their attendance; and by what number the size of the delegation was decreased owing to present economic circumstances.

A cost limit of £50,000 for attendance at the "Habitat" Conference and related expenditure has been agreed with the Civil Service Department.The opportunity to take part in "Habitat" will enable this country, as a United Nations member nation, to offer other participating countries the benefit of our own considerable experience. We will also have the chance to learn in detail of their experiences of finding solutions to the human settlement problems we still need to resolve.The present economic climate has led me to reduce my officials' original suggestions on the size of the group which will go to Vancouver to 30. This figure includes two Ministers; one member of the Opposition; 20 other delegates including non-government delegates; and seven supporting staff. This compares with a group of 53 which went to the similar United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm in 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what evidence he has of the extent to which second mortgage facilities have assisted house purchasing.

On the basis of information derived from two surveys carried out by the Department of people who moved house in the 12-month periods ending October 1971 and October 1973 it is estimated that approximately 3 per cent. of house purchases for owner-occupation were partly financed by second mortgages.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he can now give a firm date for the completion of the Egham to Maple Cross section of the London Orbital Motorway; and whether he will bear in mind that the completion of the section of the M25 between Egham and Heathrow alone would cause serious road and traffic conditions in Yiewsley and West Drayton.

Subject to the satisfactory completion of the statutory procedures and to the availability of funds, it is hoped to complete the Egham to Maple Cross section of the M25 London Orbital Route by 1983. It is the intention that completion of the final stages of the southern section of the Orbital Route should be phased to avoid as far as possible creating problems on the local road system.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the birds ordinarily used in the United Kingdom as part of the human diet within the meaning of paragraph 18(a) of Schedule 3 of the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Bill.

The terminology here derives from the Importation of Plumage (Prohibition) Act 1921. I am advised that it has hitherto been taken to cover pheasants, partridges, quails, pigeons, common snipe, plovers, larks and ortolan buntings as well as domestic fowl, turkeys, geese, ducks and guinea fowl, although of these birds it is mainly the plumage of the domestic species that is in trade.I am not, however, happy with the terminology of the 1921 Act and I have asked the Scientific Authority for Animals to consider whether it can be improved.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) upon what grounds disabled people aged over 50 years are excluded from the payment of the mobility allowance;(2) how many persons aged 50 years and over she estimates are excluded from the payment of the mobility allowance.

The mobility allowance scheme does not exclude people aged over 50 years, indeed, it is estimated that upwards of 50,000 disabled people between the age of 50 and pension age will eventually qualify for the allowance. The introduction of the allowance has had to be phased because of the scale of work involved in a scheme for so many new beneficiaries. Claims to mobility allowance from disabled people aged 15–50 are being taken now; claims for children aged 5 to 14 will be taken next; and claims from those between 50 and pension age will follow. The decision to limit entitlement to people below pension age was an extremely difficult decision to make; but one that had to be taken in order to achieve any real progress. My hon. Friend will be pleased to learn that we hope to build on the scheme when additional resources can be made available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will take steps to enable disabled persons to obtain hand-control equipment, for the conversion of ordinary vehicles for use by the disabled, by means of direct social security financial assistance.

Grants towards the cost of converting cars to hand controls were discontinued in 1972, when the private car allowance was introduced in their place. Social security provision of mobility help for disabled people is now being phased-in through the mobility allowance, which the beneficiary can use in whatever way is most appropriate to his or her needs.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will take steps to allow those persons in receipt of mobility allowance a free road fund licence.

I have been asked to reply.I would refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary gave the hon. Member for Exeter (Mr. Hannam) on 5th February.—[Vol. 904, c. 703.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average time a patient suffering from spina fidia has to wait for calipers; and if she will make a statement on plans for improving the supply and repair of calipers.

The information is being assembled, and I will circulate it in the Official Report as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will amend the title of her Department's annual report "Research and Development Work on Equipment for the Disabled" in order to emphasise that the purpose of Section 22 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act was not merely to collate information on equipment specifically designed for the disabled but to survey all types of technological developments for spin-offs of potential value to them.

I met my hon. Friend recently, together with other representatives of the Committee for Research into Aids for the Disabled, to discuss the reports so far issued under Section 22 of the Act. At our meeting, consideration was given to the effect which the report could be expected to have as a stimulus to research and development in this field.I am now awaiting the further views which the representatives of the Committee for Research into Aids for the Disabled will be submitting to me. As my hon. Friend is aware, spin-off from technical development for other purposes is unfortunately not always easily recognisable. However, my right hon. Friends in charge of the other Departments which contribute to the report have been asked to notify me of developments which might be of interest, so that professional officers with experience of the equipment needs of the disabled can investigate the possibilities.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress is being made with a more advanced version of swivel-walkers for the disabled.

An advanced version of the swivel walker is expected to be generally available in about 12 months.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the maximum level of the vehicle service benefits available to disabled persons over pension age; and how the level of this benefit has changed since it was first introduced.

The vehicle service scheme was superseded on 1st January 1976 by the mobility allowance scheme which provides a cash benefit, with the choice of an invalid tricycle as an alternative for disabled people up to pension age. For those who qualified under the vehicle service scheme the benefits of a tricycle, or of a car for certain specified categories or a private car allowance of £100 a year with exemption from Vehicle Excise Duty, continue to be available as reserved rights to disabled people, regardless of age. The level of private car allowance has remained unaltered since it was introduced under the vehicle service scheme. Vehicle Excise Duty exemption continues to be available to certain disabled passengers over pension age whether or not they qualified before 1st January 1976.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many reports have been received of infringements by foreign vessels of the limits and regulations in the Sussex Sea Fisheries District since the introduction of the quota system for sole and plaice; and what legal action has been taken.

North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission sole and plaice quotas have operated in the English Channel since January 1975. Since then, the Fishery Protection Squadron of the Royal Navy has paid special attention to this area, and at least 116 days of vessel time have been devoted to it. The Squadron has carried out 51 separate boardings, inside limits or on the high seas, to inspect gear and catches, and has made every effort to investigate complaints of alleged poaching reported by local fishermen to our Sea Fisheries Inspectorate. No figure is available of the total number of these reports. Throughout this period of surveillance, the Fishery Protection Squadron has found two cases of apparent mesh size infringements and one incident involving a suspected infringement of the NEAFC rules on undersized fish: all incidents have been reported to the flag States of the vessels concerned. Evidence was also found that some Belgian vessels had caught plaice after the quota had been fulfilled: this was brought to the notice of the Belgian authorities, which took appropriate action. No cases have been established of infringement of our fishing limits.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consideration has been given to the storage of existing quantities of dead elm wood as a future source of energy and warmth.

A great deal of consideration has been given to the properties and uses of elm as a timber but not to its use as a fuel, for which wood has a relatively low value. However, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has recently received a report from the Tree Council which contains the suggestion that poorer quality elm could be used as a fuel for social welfare. This might be feasible on a small scale, but the transportation and storage of elm for fuel on any large scale could be disproportionately expensive. The report is now being studied.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many people are employed in cold storages in the United Kingdom; and how many of these cold storages are located within five miles of any port.

On the first part of the question, I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment that information on the numbers of people employed in cold storage is not available, as statistics are compiled for the miscellaneous transport services and storage as a whole. On the second part, there are about 200 public cold stores in the United Kingdom of which some 110 are located in port areas.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how his programme for the expansion of British agriculture will operate in conjunction with the EEC stocktaking of the common agricultural policy, particularly in respect of milk.

My objective in respect both of United Kingdom agriculture and of improving the operation of the CAP is to secure the efficient use of United Kingdom and Community resources. As regards milk, I want to see the expansion of efficient production in this country where we have natural and structural advantage and less efficient production in the Community discouraged.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how he accounts for the four miscellaneous offices of the ADAS in the West Midlands region of his Department indicated in the staff list of October 1975 in view of his reply of 16th March on this subject.

In the reply to the hon. Member for Devon, West (Mr. Mills) on 16th March I correctly referred to the seven services comprising ADAS, which do not include a "miscellaneous" group. The question seems to refer to a breakdown of staff in post on October 1975 produced for internal management purposes. It includes, for purely administrative reasons, a "miscellaneous" code for a few officers.—[Vol. 907, c. 493–4.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much money is dispersed by the finance department of the West Midlands Region of his Department.

The 11 officers referred to in the reply given to the hon. Member on 16th March dealt with payments of about £1,475,000 for travel, miscellaneous expenses and fees in the financial year 1975–76.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the responsibilities of the 430 administrative and support staff of the West Midlands Region of his Department; and how those staff are divided.

About 100 administrative staff are responsible for the implementation of statutes, including those concerned with public, animal and plant health, and with agricultural wages; the various schemes for grant-aiding farm improvements; executive work on EEC intervention; and the verification of consumer subsidy payments. The remainder include staff providing typing and other common services; executive and clerical grades assisting the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service; and officers engaged on establishment and financial matters.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many qualified veterinary surgeons there are in the MAFF investigation centres.

On 1st April 1976 there were 93 full-time and one part-time qualified veterinary surgeons employed in the Ministry's 24 veterinary investigation centres.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of the effort of veterinary surgeons at the investigation centres is devoted to research.

Approximately 8 per cent. of the time of the veterinary surgeons at the investigation centres is devoted to research and development. Research in this context is essentially of an applied nature.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many legal cases are initiated in courts each year by his Department.

Over the last three years the number of cases initiated in the courts by my Department was:

	Cases initiated in Court
	Criminal	Civil	Total
1973	93	23	116
1974	56	36	92
1975	126	39	165
TOTAL	275	98	373

These figures do not include cases initiated under tribunal or arbitration procedures, nor to cases initiated by the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce or the Forestry Commission.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many lawyers are employed by the Forestry Commission.

The Forestry Commission does not directly employ any lawyers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many white fish and shellfish were in cold storage at the last available date.

Total stocks of frozen white fish held in the United Kingdom at 29th February 1976, the most recent date for which figures are available, are estimated by the White Fish Authority at 36,857 tonnes. A figure for stocks of shellfish is not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to improve the quality of the submissions by his Department to the annual reports pursuant to Section 22 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 concerning research and development work on equipment that might be of benefit to disabled people; and if he will ensure that possible spin-offs from technological advances are not overlooked.

There has been no call for my Department to make any such submission. If any developments arose which might interest my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services, I would inform her so that professional officers with experience of the equipment needs of the disabled could investigate the possibilities.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the ratio of wholly unemployed males to notified vacancies in Scotland, Wales, Greater London and the regions of England; and what is the corresponding ratio for unemployed youths.

The following table shows the numbers of unemployed males and females and the numbers of unfilled vacancies at employment offices and careers offices. Vacancies are no longer recorded separately for males and females. The vacancy figures relate only to those notified to these offices and are not a measure of total vacancies. The vacancies notified to employment offices are

NUMBERS UNEMPLOYED AND NOTIFIED UNFILLED VACANCIES AT MARCH 1976
		Numbers unemployed		Notified unfilled vacancies (males and females)
		Males	Females	Employment Offices	Careers Offices
Scotland	…	107,299	37,829	14,370	1,281
Wales	…	57,715	16,581	4,533	577
Greater London	…	116,628	27,975	20,383	4,287
South East (including Greater London)	…	237,291	61,582	40,700	8,289
East Anglia	…	26,280	6,879	3,209	958
South West	…	78,347	23,073	7,430	1,497
West Midlands	…	99,759	28,081	5,554	1,994
East Midlands	…	54,618	14,794	6,258	1,966
Yorkshire and Humberside	…	85,475	22,632	7,805	1,871
North West	…	146,860	38,737	9,753	1,957
North	…	68,850	21,891	7,298	836

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from senior lecturers in Scottish further education colleges about stage 2 of the Houghton recommendations and the current Government wages policy; and what replies he has sent.

A number of representations has been received and I met both sides of the Scottish Teachers Salaries Committee on 24th March. In the replies given, it has been confirmed that there is no scope for implementing the Houghton stage 2 restructuring for senior lecturers under the current pay policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is Government policy, in relation to the implementation of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act, for Sikhs who refuse to remove their turbans and use safety helmets.

I am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that there are no provisions which make the wearing and supply of safety helmets mandatory, nor at present any proposals or draft legislation which would make the wearing of safety helmets compulsory.