asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will take steps to prohibit the importation into Scotland of apis mellifera adonsonii.

I have no knowledge of any proposals to import bees of this species into Scotland, and I am advised that it is unlikely that they would survive long in Scottish conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will seek powers to take the land and rivers of the Highlands and Islands into public ownership during the lifetime of the present Parliament.

In relation to the Highlands and Islands, as elsewhere, various statutory provisions exist for taking land into public ownership. It is the Government's policy that action should be taken under these powers as and when the public interest so requires.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the age structure of those engaged in the Scottish inshore fishing industry.

The only available information is from the Population Census, and the latest figures given below relate to all Scottish fishermen in 1971:

Age Group	Number of fisherman
15–24	1,790
25–34	1,920
35–44	1,690
45–54	1,410
55 and over	1,210

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average cost of houses built for owner-occupation in Scotland during the period of the last 12 months or the latest annual period for which such figures are available.

About £11,900, including site.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the Open University concerning the hardships suffered by Open University students in Scotland as a result of the Post Office's decision to discontinue the collection of mail on Sundays.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the daily traffic volume, at the latest convenient date, passing Damhead Bridge on the A94 one mile south of Coupar Angus.

At August 1975, just over 6,000 vehicles per day.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the annual total value of food produced in Scotland during the latest year for which figures are available.

Estimated values of food production are available only for the United Kingdom as a whole. For such an estimate I refer the hon. Member to the reply given today by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was paid in each of the last five financial years to the latest available date in meeting travel and subsistence costs and other remuneration to those whom he appointed to public boards and similar bodies.

The information could not be collected and collated without disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the effect on employment of the rationalisation of steel production in the United Kingdom and the removal of products from Scottish steel works.

I have been asked to reply.It is difficult to distinguish the effects on employment of the rationalisation of steel production from other factors. In the case of BSC the reduction in employment on iron and steel activities in recent years, from all causes, has been proportionately much the same in Scotland as in the rest of the United Kingdom. As a result of the decisions on Scottish closures announced on 6th August 1975, the range of steel products made in Scotland by BSC is expected to remain stable into the 1980s.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has initiated either in the Council of Ministers of the EEC or at official level about the growing menace of rabies in Europe and the extension of appropriate measures to eliminate this disease.

We maintain contact with other EEC countries, but there are good reasons why measures should differ between those member States that are rabies free and those where the disease is endemic.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to see that the various bodies involved in the prevention of rabies are effectively co-ordinated.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the right hon. Member for Cambridgeshire (Mr. Pym) on 6th May.—[Vol. 910, c. 448–9.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the danger of rabies being introduced into Great Britain, what advice he is giving local authorities to strengthen defences against the illegal entry of animals and to isolate any outbreak of rabies should one occur.

Local authorities receive detailed guidance from my Department on both import control arrangements and on contingency plans for stamping out any outbreak of rabies that might occur. My Department maintains close contact with the local authorities, who are fully aware of their responsibilities and the need to maintain and strengthen our defences.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has recently received from British tomato growers about the effects of cheap imports in cutting the price of tomatoes leading to British growers making a loss.

The National Farmers' Union asked for the regulations of tomato imports from both EEC and third countries to prevent what it feared would be a collapse of the home market. My right hon. Friend has replied that the market, which has since strengthened, responds to changes in demand as well as to fluctuations in supply; that seasonal supplies from the Canary Islands, our largest third country source, are nearly over; and that in competition with Community and particularly with Dutch tomatoes British growers are in fact in a better position than is sometimes suggested, especially in view of the extra de facto protection afforded by the fall in the value of sterling.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the growth in numbers of wild mink in the United Kingdom in the last year; and what further action he will take to support water authorities in controlling this pest.

This non-indigenous species is now found extensively in Britain, mainly alongside rivers, but no realistic population estimates are available. The Agriculture Departments are at all times willing to assist water authorities, and others concerned, by providing advice on control techniques and by lending suitable traps. Strict precautions are also enforced to prevent mink escaping from licensed establishments. To go further than this would be inconsistent with the general principle of occupier responsibility for pest control, and my right hon. Friends do not have any additional measures in mind.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to submit to the EEC detailed maps and figures suporting the Government's arguments in favour of exclusive fishing zones based on the principle of variable width bands.

Her Majesty's Government are treating the future of the common fisheries policy as a question of urgent importance. They are ready to submit any further information in support of the United Kingdom's position as soon as it is appropriate to do so.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied that bee colonies are adequately protected against damage by sprays.

Yes, provided all concerned act on the commonsense guidelines drawn up by my Department. We are concerned to avoid the kind of incidents which the hon. Member brought to notice last year. With this in mind we have lately been giving intensive publicity to these guidelines and have been encouraged by the response from local media, not least in the hon. Member's constituency.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the level of subsidies paid by the EEC to malt exporters and the measures taken by the authorities to avoid abuse of the system.

Subsidies paid by the EEC on malt exports are calculated from the differences between world and EEC prices of barley and are intended to enable exporters to compete effectively on world markets. Malt export licences which are valid for up to 12 months are usually taken out in June and July each year when maltsters arrange their forward contracts. The export refund available to exporters in the original Six was up to £36·24 per tonne on malt exported in 1975–76 to third countries against prefixed export licences taken out in June-July 1975. In the United Kingdom these refunds are subject to transitional and monetary adjustments and the maximum received by an exporter would be £18·01 per tonne. No subsidy is payable on exports covered by current licences for immediate export.EEC Regulation 413/76 of 25th February 1976 reduced from six months to a maximum of one month the period during which malt can be held under Customs control prior to export. Other changes in the malt regulations are currently under consideration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with quarantine regulations for animals at United Kingdom points of entry; and whether any animal in the past 10 years has been found to have rabies after serving the statutory quarantine period.

The quarantine regulations are satisfactory, but we have given until February 1977—two years after the coming into operation of the Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and other Mammals) Order 1974—for the provision of adequate holding facilities at all the authorised points of entry into Great Britain.Apart from one dog in October 1969 and one in February 1970 no imported animal has died of rabies in this country after leaving quarantine in over 50 years.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many animal quarantine units there are, and how many additional units have opened since 1970.

There are 51 approved quarantine premises for dogs and cats in the United Kingdom capable of holding 3,417 animals; 12 premises have opened and eight closed since 1970.In addition there are 152 premises licensed to hold other mammals under the rabies quarantine regulations.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the annual total value of food produced in England and Wales during the latest year for which figures are available.

The value before manufacture or distribution of food produced in the United Kingdom, including landings of fish by British vessels, was £3,636 million in 1974–75.I regret that a separate figure for England and Wales is not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence he has amassed during 1975 of British commercial or pleasure vessels taking animals abroad and return with them on board, whether openly or covertly.

Local authorities have reported three incidents during 1975 where animals were taken abroad on British vessels and returned to this country without import licences having been granted. In all three cases the offenders were successfully prosecuted.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much was paid in each of the last five financial years to the latest available date in meeting travel and subsistence costs and other remuneration to those whom he appointed to public boards and similar bodies.

I regret that the information is not readily available and could only be assembled at disproportionate cost.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much was paid in each of the last five financial years to the latest available date in meet-

						Members of the Law Commission	Chairman and Members of the Council on Tribunals
						£	£
Year to 31st March 1972	…	…	…	…	…	33,775	6,700
Year to 31st March 1973	…	…	…	…	…	43,690	6,830
Year to 31st March 1974	…	…	…	…	…	50,575	7,450
Year to 31st March 1975	…	…	…	…	…	44,145	8,950
Year to 31st March 1976	…	…	…	…	…	64,015	10,565

As I explained in answer to a Question by the hon. Member for Fife, Central on 1st April—[Vol. 908, c. 566], there are no such appointments in my gift.

asked the Attorney-General if he will accept nominations to represent the interest of farmers on the Agricultural Land Tribunal for Wales from the Farmers' Union of Wales.

My noble Friend will not accept such nominations. As the hon. Member will know from the reply given to him on Thursday 13th May by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales—[Vol. 911, c. 228]—the present position is that the Farmers' Union of Wales is not officially recognised by agricultural Ministers. Consequently the union is not included among the organisations invited to nominate members to official committees and other bodies to which representative appointments are made by Ministers.

asked the Attorney-General how much was paid in each of the last five financial years, to the latest available date, in meeting travel and subsistence costs and other remuneration to those whom he appointed to public boards and similar bodies.

My noble Friend the Lord Chancellor estimates that the following sums have been paid to members of the Law Commission, and the Councils on Tribunals.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will review the rules governing the extent to which civil servants may engage in political activities.

The National Staff Side of the Civil Service Whitley Council has represented to the Government that there should be independent inquiry into these rules. The Government have accordingly decided to set up a Committee of Inquiry with the following terms of reference:

"To review the rules governing the active participation by civil servants in national and local political activities; and to make recommendations."

I have appointed Sir Arthur Armitage, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Manchester, as chairman and I am grateful to him for agreeing to undertake this task. I have it in mind that the Committee might operate rather on the lines of the Committee under Sir John Masterman, which reviewed these matters in a report published in June 1949. The Committee will, in addition to the Chairman, comprise some nine or 10 senior people, and a further statement will be made when the membership is complete.

asked the Lord President of the Council how much was paid in each of the last five financial years, to the latest available date, in meeting travel and subsistence costs and other remuneration to those whom he appointed to public boards and similar bodies.

I regret that the information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the site at Oakington, Cambridgeshire has now been disposed of, in the light of the recommendations of the Nugent Committee Report on Defence Lands.

As stated in paragraph 13 of the Statement on the Report of the Defence Lands Committee 1971–73 (Cmnd. 5714) an Army infantry battalion is now located at the former RAF Station at Oakington. Cambridgeshire.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in the release of 75 acres at Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire, following the recommendations of the Nugent Committee Report on Defence Lands.

In the event it was possible to pass 38 acres to the Property Services Agency for disposal.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the 62 acres at the north of the Middlewick Range area, at Colchester, Essex, have been released following the recommendations of the Nugent Committee Report on Defence Lands.

Surplus land at Middlewick is now with the Property Services Agency for disposal.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether land that is not essential to defence requirements at Orfordness. Suffolk, has been disposed of, as recommended by the Nugent Committee Report on Defence Lands.

Explosives clearance is in progress as a preliminary to disposal of the land referred to. As indicated in paragraph 16 of the Statement on the Report of the Defence Lands Committee 1971–73 (Cmnd. 5714) additional land at Orfordness has been passed to the Property Services Agency for disposal.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the recommendations of the Nugent Committee regarding the site at Debden, Essex. have been carried out.

As indicated in paragraph 13 of the Statement on the Report of the Defence Lands Committee 1971–73 (Cmnd. 5714) the former RAF Station at Debden is to be used for a major Army unit.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the storage area of 300 acres at the site at Aston Down, Gloucestershire, has been disposed of, following the recommenda tions of the Nugent Committee Report on Defence Lands.

No. The study carried out in 1974 concluded that it would be more economic to retain the storage task at Aston Down rather than move it to Quedgeley. However, as a result of the defence review last year consideration is being given to the possibility of reducing the storage space required at Aston Down.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in the restoration and disposal of land at the site at Lydney, Gloucestershire, following the recommendation of the Nugent Committee.

I have nothing to add to the rely given to a similar Question from my hon. Friend on 4th February last—[Vol. 904, c. 607].

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the 600 acres approximately, in the north and east of the site at Cranwell, Lincolnshire, have yet been disposed of, following the recommendation of the Nugent Committee Report on Defence Lands.

A suitable opportunity to dispose of this land, which is subject to agriculture tenancies, has not yet arisen.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the site at Fulbeck, Lincolnshire, has been disposed of, following the recommendation of the Nugent Committee.

The flying training requirements at Cranwell have changed and there may after all be a need to retain Fulbeck as a relief landing ground. The site will be retained until studies on this are complete.

asked the Secretary of State of Defence whether the recommendation of the Nugent Committee Report on Defence Lands regard- ing the site at Hemswell, Lincolnshire has been carried out.

The married quarters are being retained but the remainder of the site has been passed to the Property Services Agency for disposal.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the 250 acres at Swinderby, Lincolnshire, which are no longer required, according to the Nugent Committee Report on Defence Lands, are to be disposed of.

The position has not changed since my hon. Friend's earlier Question on this subject was answered on 4th February 1976—[Vol. 904, c. 606.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether 72 acres of the site at Weybourne, Norfolk, have been sold, following the recommendation of the Nugent Committee.

In the event it was possible to sell 68 acres.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in the disposal of land at Chelveston, Northamptonshire, in the light of the Nugent Committee Report on Defence Lands.

A further defence task has been found for the greater part of the area but 77½ acres have been passed to the Property Services Agency for disposal.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether any land at the site at North Luffenham, Rutland, has been disposed of, following the recommendations of the Nugent Committee Report on Defence Lands.

The future use of this airfield is still under consideration but 4·7 acres have been passed to the Property Services Agency for disposal.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in the disposal of land, at the site at Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, following the recommendations of the Nugent Committee Report on Defence Lands.

The factory has been sold to Westland Helicopters Ltd. Most of the airfield is with the Property Services Agency for disposal.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what decision has been reached regarding the future of the site at Shotley HMS "Ganges", Suffolk, following the Nugent Committee Report.

I have nothing to add to the answer given to my hon. Friend's earlier Question on this subject on 4th February 1976—[Vol. 904, c. 606].

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the freehold site of 92 acres at Warwick (Wedgnock), Warwickshire, has been disposed of, following the recommendations of the Nugent Report.

It has not been possible to carry out the necessary improvements at Kingsley Range, due to technical problems. As a result the training task cannot be transferred there from Wedgnock.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost of ordnance store issues at COD Donning-ton, excluding forms and publications, in 1974–75.

£3·2 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how much was paid in each of the last five financial years to the latest available date in meeting travel and subsistence costs and other remuneration to those whom he appointed to public boards and similar bodies.

This information is not readily available but I shall try to help my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what verification takes place of the figures put forward by the teachers' organizations in connection with claims for membership of the Teachers' Panel of the Burnham Committee.

There is no formal verification procedure

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if there is any system of contract recommended by his Department for the employment of peripatetic music teachers.

No. A teacher's contract of service is a matter between him and his employer. Where the employer is a local education authority the contract of service is likely to follow recommendations agreed nationally between the local authorities' and teachers' associations, but I am not aware of any recommendations relating specifically to peripatetic music teachers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many peripatetic music teachers there are in England and Wales in 1976; and how many there were in 1975 and 1974;(2) how many peripatetic music teachers are presently employed in Gloucestershire; and how many were employed in 1975 and 1974.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Member for Eton and Slough (Miss Lestor) on 20th January 1976—[Vol. 903, c. 444.] I have, however, ascertained that the numbers of permanent peripatetic music teachers presently employed by the Gloucestershire local education authority are eight full-time and one part-time. In 1975 there were also eight full-time teachers and one part-time and in 1974 there were seven full-time teachers. In addition, over 100 music teachers are employed by the authority on an hourly basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many qualified teachers have been unemployed as teachers for more than three months; and what steps he is taking to see that their skills are properly utilised for educational purposes.

The Department of Employment's figures do not indicate the length of time for which people in particular occupations have been unemployed. My right hon. Friend's Advisory Committee on the Supply and Training of Teachers is considering what steps might be taken to retrain teachers to teach subjects where, despite overall teacher unemployment, there are still shortages.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to reduce violence in schools; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is inviting the local authority, teacher and education welfare associations to meet him in June to discuss problems of behaviour in schools. The question of disruptive and violent incidents is among the topics to be discussed at that meeting.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the proposals and recommendations made by the Schools Council to his Department since 1972; and which of these have been implemented or are in the process of implementation.

In July 1973 the council recommended that GCE 0- level examination results should be expressed by reference to an official grading scheme instead of in terms of simple passes or failures. The Secretary of State adopted the recommendation in April 1974. It took effect with the summer 1975 examinations. In July 1974 the council recommended a form of certification, and a scheme for the grading, of results achieved by candidates in experimental examinations for a Certificate of Extended Education. The Secretary of State adopted the recommendation in the same month and it took effect immediately.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of students at present in teacher training colleges; and if he is satisfied that they will obtain employment in education when qualified.

The total number of students on all courses of initial teacher training in October 1975 was estimated to be 105,418. By no means all of those who successfully complete their courses in this and subsequent years will seek teaching employment in maintained schools; of those who do a high proportion are likely to find it, but uncertainty about wastage rates from and re-entry to the profession makes it impossible to give a reliable estimate of their number.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much was paid in each of the last five financial years to the latest available date in meeting travel and subsistence costs and other remuneration to those whom he appointed to public boards and similar bodies.

Excluding travel and subsistence the annual cost relating to the 136 appointments for which I am responsible is in the order of £197,000. Information concerning travel and subsistence costs is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate expense.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will seek an early meeting with the NUT and other teachers' organisations concerning the proposal by Tame-side Council to reintroduce the 11 plus examination; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has asked Tame-side for detailed information about its intentions. He hopes to receive a reply very soon after today's meeting of the Education Committee, when he will be in a position to decide what action to take.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of the total housing stock in England and Wales, other West European countries, the United States of America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand is made up of (a) owner-occupied housing, (b) council or State housing, (c) privately rented accommodation and (d) housing associations, tenant co-operatives and other tenures.

The available information is as follows:

England and Wales (1975)	Per cent.
Owner-occupied	55
Rented from local authorities or new towns	29
Rented from private owners and other tenures	16

Available sources on the housing stock of other countries do not classify the ownership of rented housing. Proportions of housing which are owner-occupied follow:

	Per cent.
Austria 1972	49
Belgium*	55
Denmark*	47
France*	43
Germany (Fedral Republic)*	34
Ireland*	69
Italy*	53
Luxembourg*	57
Netherlands*	36
Portugal 1960	44
Spain 1950	46
Switzerland 1970	28
Sweden 1965	36
USA 1973	64
Canada 1971	60
Australia 1971	67
New Zealdand 1971	68
* About 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, from the information available to him, he will state which countries, prior to introducing the compulsory wearing of seat belts, allowed a preparatory period during which the penal sanctions were not operative: and for what periods.

In Norway, where a law imposing compulsory wearing came into force in January 1976, the police have been instructed not to bring prosecutions during the first 12 months of operation.In West Germany, wearing of belts is required by law but there are no penal sanctions. These may be imposed by order of the Minister if it appears necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will delay the phasing out of the rail freight subsidy until heavy lorries, especially those over 3·5 tons gross vehicle weight, pay the full costs which they impose on the roads and the environment.

As the consultation document says, the Government see no case for general and continuing subsidy to any form of freight transport. The timing of any policy changes, and their inter-relation, will be decided in the light of the consultation process.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what policies he is pursuing to encourage the transfer to freight traffic from road to rail.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Keighley (Mr. Cryer) on 14th January.—[Vol. 903, c. 376–6]

Atkins asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will implement the quantity licensing provisions of the Transport Act 1968; and if he will make a statement

I am not convinced that quantity licensing would achieve the desired results without excessive costs. I shall of course consider representations on this subject as on others in the context of the transport policy review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he has taken to discourage the closure of private sidings.

Private sidings are the responsibility of the railways' customers. Their provision or closure reflects changes in customer requirements and in the pattern of rail freight movement. Grants are available under Section 8 of the Railways Act 1974 towards capital expenditure needed to modernise or install them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is prepared to review the present Parker Morris standards for electrical outlets in dwellings following the report of the Electrical Installation Liaison Committee on the safety hazards involved in overloaded electrical sockets and trailing electrical leads.

I see no reason for doing so. The present recommended standards are minima and there is nothing to prevent local authorities from making provision to a higher standard provided the cost can be contained within the overall cost limit for the scheme; that is within the approved cost yardstick plus 10 per cent. tolerance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) on average, how many Government cars are used to convey Ministers from the House to their homes from Mondays to Thursdays;(2) on how many occasions per week Government cars are used to carry Ministers after (

The information requested is not available as detailed records are not kept of the individual journeys made by Ministers' allocated cars within the central London area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what would be the estimated annual saving in wages if Ministers' cars were not required to wait at the House to take them home.

It is not possible to make any sound estimate as there are no records available of the extent to which Ministers' cars so wait at the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what overtime rates are paid to the drivers of Ministers' cars when they are required to stay late at the House in order to convey Ministers to their homes.

Overtime on a weekday basis is paid at the time-and-a-third overtime rate for the first two hours and at the time-and-a-half rate thereafter. If a day work driver is kept at work beyond his normal finishing time and until after midnight he or she will be paid additionally for the hours between finishing work and 6 a.m. at the plain time overtime rate if sent home between midnight and 2 a.m. and at the time-and-a-half rate if sent home later.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what safety precautions will be necessary for the transport of tritium by road or rail in addition to those prescribed for the transport of other nuclear products.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress he is making with the review of the law on enforcement; and whether he will make a statement.

I hope to bring forward appropriate legislation when there is a suitable opportunity.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress he has made towards a comprehensive review of the circulars and other guidance issued by his Department and into the preparation of a leaflet for householders explaining when planning permission is needed and how to get it; and whether he will make a statement.

Forty circulars have already been cancelled and a circular cancelling a further 77 will be published within the next few weeks. The review and consolidation of the remaining circulars is continuing and the first consolidated circular is nearing completion. the leaflet for householders will be published as soon as possible after we have assimilated the comments just received during consultations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to implement the recommendations in the Dobry Report to publish his findings on the report of the Departmental Committee on Environmental Impact Studies.

Two reports will be published shortly and I shall announce my views on them in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what statistics he has indicating the degree of delegation of planning applications to (i) offices and (ii) sub-committees to planning authorities.

None, since local planning authorities are not required to tell my right hon. Friend about their delegation arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of local authorities comply with the time limit for processing planning applications; and whether there has been any improvement since the publication of the Dobry Report.

The information is not yet available, but a new general development control statistical return will show how many applications are decided within the statutory time limit.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the present cost of processing each planning application compared with 1973–74.

Within a wide margin of error it was estimated in 1975 that the cost per application was approximately £90. The Dobry Report estimated £65-£100 for 1973–74.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce procedures for amending planning applications.

Local planning authorities are already able to allow minor amendments to planning applications as we have recently reminded them in Ciruclar 9/76. A system which allowed for more substantial amendments and at the same time ensured full public awareness would have no advantage over reapplication.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce charges for some planning applications.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce standard publicity for planning applications.

The existing statutory publicity already follows a standard form.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to issue a circular dealing with the need for co-operation between local authorities in the operation of development control schemes.

The right hon. and learned Gentlemen appears to have forgotten that he himself issued precisely this advice in 1973. Further advice was given in January this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress he has made with the revision of Development Control Note No. 10: and whether he will make a statement.

Development Control Policy Note No. 10 is being considered in the general review and any necessary revision will be made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made with research into public consultation on planning control; and whether he will make a statement.

A pilot study is in progress and preliminary results should be available in the autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further action he is taking to give guidance on planning policy to developers, public and local authorities and the public.

This is a continuous process through the Department's circulars and other publications.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made with experiments in providing environmental liaison officers; and whether he will make a statement.

I know of no environmental liaison officers, at least not by that name. Perhaps the right hon. and learned Gentleman would write to me about them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made with the proposal to promote a statutory framework for neighbourhood councils; and whether he will make a statement.

The possibility of legislation to enable neighbourhood councils to be given some form of statutory status is still under consideration in the light of the response to the Government's proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he

			Local inquiry cases	Written representations cases
(a) Appeals decided by inspectors	…	…	31 weeks	25 weeks
(b) Appeals decided by Secretary of State	…	…	54 weeks	48 weeks
These average times relate to appeals decided during April 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give the number of planning appeals lodged during 1975; and how many of these have been determined.

11,690 appeals under Section 36 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 were lodged in 1975. Information about the number of these which have been determined is not available and could only be obtained at dis-

I have offered a further small grant to support the work of the Town and Country Planning Association's Planning Aid Service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether there are any statistics available as to the time taken in granting detailed approvals for housing development; and whether any assessment has been made of the cost of delays.

No, but a new general development control statistical return will ask authorities to show how long they have taken in deciding applications for different types of development, including dwellings. Manpower will be more fruitfully used on minimising the time taken to handle cases than on generalised assessments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average time now for a decision to be reached on a planning appeal, from the date of receipt of the appeal form in (a) transferred and (b) Secretary of State cases, disregarding appeals which are withdrawn.

Following is the information requested:proportionate expense. 11,486 appeals were decided in 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress he is making with providing case officers for each planning appeal; and whether he will make a statement.

The name of an officer who can be approached for information is notified to each appellant when receipt of the appeal in the Department is acknowledged. This arrangement has applied to all appeals lodged since 1st January 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to improve and speed up planning procedures or to implement the Dobry Report by legislative or administrative measures.

Detailed comments on the report were made in a statement by my right hon. Friend last November which was brought to the attention of local authorities by Circular 113/75. Further advice was given in Circular 9/76.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress he is making with the proposal to amend legislation in written representation procedures, and with amendment of the present rules as to the award of costs; and whether he will make a statement.

If what the right hon. and learned Member has in mind is a statutory timetable for these cases, my right hon. Friend indicated last November why the Government did not favour this approach. I hope to take the next legislative opportunity to extend the power to award costs to cover planning appeals dealt with by written representations and those withdrawn before inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress he is making with a review of the General Development Order; and whether he will make a statement.

Various aspects of the General Development Order are currently under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is aware that substantial delays are being experienced in the submission of structure plans; and when he expects all local and structure plans will have been approved.

The general commencement order enabling all county planning authorities to prepare structure plans came into operation on 1st August 1974, after the reorganisation of local government. In almost all cases, we expect the structure plans to have been submitted by the target date of 1st April 1978. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will approve structure plans as soon as practicable after submission.Development plan schemes prepared by county planning authorities in consultation with district planning authorities set out a programme for the preparation of local plans. It is expected that work on the most important will be sufficiently far forward for the process leading to adoption to begin as soon as the structure plan for the area has been approved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities have so far produced draft local plans.

23 development plan schemes had been adopted by county councils at the end of March 1976 covering 191 planning authorities. They allocated responsibility for 1,700 local plans, and it is estimated that work has started on perhaps 40 per cent. of these. Information on the number of draft local plans that have actually been produced is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is ready to publish a departmental circular or other document specially designed to help local councillors and which will bring together information about all his Department's activities, including planning; and whether he will make such a document generally available to the public.

The possibility of a further departmental publication, in addition to the large amount of material already issued to local authorities and to the public, is under consideration. The costs and benefits are being carefully examined.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress he has made with the implementation of Section 1 of the Town and Country Amenities Act 1974.

Section 1 of the Town and Country Amenities Act 1974 deals with three separate conservation matters—the designation of conservation areas, the control of demolition in these areas, and the formulation of schemes of enhancement in them.The designation of conservation areas is going well: 938 have been designated in England since the Act came into force.Demolition control as extended in the Act is the responsibility of local authorities and generally is operating satisfactorily.I have not yet made any directions concerning the formulation of schemes of enhancement, mainly because of their public expenditure implications.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress he is making into pre-inquiry meetings and other measures aimed at shortening public inquiries and improving inquiry procedures; and whether he will make a statement.

Pre-inquiry meetings and early exchange of statements are being arranged in appropriate major cases to test which procedures are most useful for each type of case. Inspectors are fully aware of the importance of keeping proceedings short and to the point.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made with amendment of the law of copyright so that application and appeal plans can be copied; and whether he will make a statement.

This matter is one of many under consideration by the committee examining the law of copyright, under the chairmanship of Mr. Justice Whitford, which was appointed in 1974. Advice clarifying how the present law applies is being prepared.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made with improvements in accessibility of planning registers; and whether he will make a statement.

Local planning authorities were asked in January to take steps to make planning registers more accessible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce control of demolition.

I shall consider the control of demolition in the light of the working of the Community Land Act.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average delay between the lodging of a rating assessment appeal and its hearing by a valuation panel in the Camden area; how long is the longest delay; and if he will make a statement.

An average figure is not available, but I understand that most of the rating appeals now being heard in the Camden area were made about two and a half years ago. A few exceptional cases are up to six months older than that. A local valuation court sits in Camden every week and 4,400 appeals out of 10,800 made since 1973 have now been settled.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is his latest estimate of the tonnages of freight which would be carried on the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation if this canal were improved as the British Waterways Board proposes;(2) what is his estimate of the costs which would be incurred by the British Waterways Board if the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation were either downgraded or left in its present category;(3) what estimated cash return would have to be achieved to allow him to approve the proposal to improve the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation; and if this assessment has a similar basis to that which applies to road and rail investment.

The British Waterways Board estimates that arrears of maintenance on this waterway amount to about £1·5 million. If the waterway were downgraded to cruising status this would be reduced to about £1·1 million. The additional investment involved in the improvement scheme is put at about £4·3 million.There is, of course, considerable uncertainty about the traffic which would be attracted to an improved waterway, but my Department estimates that it might amount to about 1·15 million tons built up over a period of some five years. This uncertainty makes it necessary to consider the proposal against the more stringent criteria appropriate for high-risk projects, where an enhanced DCF return would normally be expected on the additional investment. Account would, however, be taken of environmental and other non-quantifiable factors.

					London Equalisation Scheme
				General Rate	Contributions (-)	Poundage
Rating Authority				Levied	Receipts(+)	Equivalent
				p	£m.	p
City of London	…	…	…	70·09	-11·0	5·00
Camden	…	…	…	79·68	-5·4	5·00
Greenwich	…	…	…	68·12	-1·8	5·00
Hackney	…	…	…	62·00	-1·7	5·00
Hammersmith	…	…	…	62·41	-1·7	5·00
Islington	…	…	…	68·40	-2·3	5·00
Kensington and Chelsea	…	…	…	56·20	-3·3	5·00
Lembeth	…	…	…	67·81	-2·7	5·00
Lewisham	…	…	…	65·62	-2·1	5·00
Southwark	…	…	…	75·25	-2·4	5·00
Tower Hamlets	…	…	…	74·64	-2·0	5·00
Wandsworth	…	…	…	62·83	-2·5	5·00
Westminster	…	…	…	67·60	-15·0	5·00
Barking	…	…	…	79·50	+2·9	11·01
Barnet	…	…	…	64·25	+3·1	5·53
Bexley	…	…	…	71·50	+2·5	6·60
Brent	…	…	…	75·77	+4·4	8·93
Bromley	…	…	…	76·49	+3·4	6·61
Croydon	…	…	…	69·03	+2·7	4·17
Ealing	…	…	…	78·12	+3·0	5·65
Enfield	…	…	…	69·79	+3·0	6·45
Haringey	…	…	…	83·03	+4·5	11·44
Harrow	…	…	…	75·08	+2·3	6·59
Havering	…	…	…	73·78	+2·7	6·50
Hillingdon	…	…	…	76·88	+1·2	2·15
Hounslow	…	…	…	75·26	+1·2	2·53
Kingston-upon-Thames	…	…	…	72·90	+1·2	4·48
Merton	…	…	…	75·20	+2·0	6·67
Newham	…	…	…	4·50	+4·4	11·57
Redbridge	…	…	…	70·50	+2·7	6·61
Richmond-upon-Thames	…	…	…	73·30	+1·9	6·66
Sutton	…	…	…	72·38	+1·9	6·47
Waltham Forest	…	…	…	79·20	+2·6	6·77
Averages:
Innter London	…	…	…	69·22	-53·6	5·0
Outer London	…	…	…	74·82	+53·6	6·4
Greater London	…	…	…	70·90	—	—

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state, for each London rating authority, for Inner London, Outer London and Greater London, the rate in the pound being levied in 1976–77 and the contributions or receipts attributable to the London rate equalisation scheme, expressed as pence in the pound and as cash.

On the information provided by the London rating authorities the details are:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many new dwellings in the public and private sector have been completed in Worcester in each of the past five years.

The following is the information requested:

	Public Sector	Private Sector
1971	29	361
1972	52	243
1973	65	304
1974	48	185
1975	71	332

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultation is taking place between his Department and the West Yorkshire County Council on a proposal to divert heavy lorries on to a section of the A646, between Halifax and Todmorden.