465
Written Answers
17 JULY 1979
Written Answers
466
Mr. Blaker: Persons in the following the Hong Kong Government, and the categories are offered public housing: private developers of the site. (1) occupants of permanent dwellings on leased land resumed by the Crown for a public purpose; (2) squatters living in temporary buildings which were surveyed in 1964. All others affected by clearances are offered temporary accommodation from which they will later be moved into public housing. These offers are condi- tional on the persons concerned having no alternative accommodation.
Mr. Hooley asked the Lord Privy Seal what profits have been made (a) by the Government and (b) by private specula- tors out of the expropriation and subse- quent redevelopment of land and property in the course of providing four depots for the mass transit railway in Hong Kong.
Mr. Blaker: Three of the four depot sites do not involve resumption as they are to be constructed on reclaimed land which has not been leased. It is too carly to forecast what profits may be made in connection with the remaining depot at Tsuen Wan. Any such profits will be shared between the Mass Transit Railway Corporation, which is wholly owned by
Bankruptcies(a)
Company liquidations (b)
compulsory
creditors' voluntary
members' voluntary (c)...
Notes:-
電離
Mr. Hooley asked the Lord Privy Seal, if he will send a special commission of inquiry to Hong Kong to investigate the expropriation of property, the adequacy or inadequacy of compensation, the pro- fits made by private and commercial in- tercsts, the machinery for audit of accounts, and all related matters involved in the construction of the mass transit railway and its associated auxiliary depots, stations, buildings and equipment.
Mr. Blaker: No.
TRADE
Bankruptcies and Liquidations
Mr Knox asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list the total number of personal bankruptcies, voluntary company liquidation and compulsory company liquidations in the period Feb- ruary 1974 to March 1979
Mr. Eyre: For February 1974 to March 1979 inclusive the information requested is as follows:
England and Wales
28,613
11,360
...
15,641
19,961
United Kingdom
29,282
11,716
16,641
21,462
(a) covers individual persons and partnerships; figures for England and Wales relate to receiving and administration orders made, those for Scotland to sequestration orders and those for Northern Ireland to adjudication orders, arrangement protection orders and administration orders. The three areas follow different procedures under different Acts but the figures are thought to be broadly com- parable.
(b) the numbers are of liquidations begun during the period (c) this type of liquidation does not involve insolvency.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Capital Punishment
Mr. Major asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has sought the views of Service chiefs in the Province on the practicability of restoring capital punishment; and what views they expressed.
Mr. Humphrey Atkins: My consulta- tions with the Chief Constable of the RUC and the GOC, Northern Ireland must remain confidential, but my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary will take account of the considerations which weigh
8 LL 8
with them when he speaks in the debate on 19 July.
SCOTLAND
Parliamentary Boundaries
Mr. Millan asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what timetable he now envisages for the revision of parlia- mentary boundaries in Scotland.
Mr. Younger: I understand that the Parliamentary Boundary Commission for Scotland expects to begin publishing pro- visional recommendations for constituen- cies in the autumn of this year. It seems
Writ
467
likely that its completed in 19
Water
Mr. Henderso State for Scotl amend the Wate proprietors of compensation fo the laying and r is the case in Ei with gas and oil
Mr. Rifkind : of the Water (Sc provide for co caused by laying mains by water a
Spouse
Other relative *provisional
Ratin
Mr. John Mac of State for Scot troduce legislati rating revaluation Mr. Younger whether to seek defer if necessar
due in Scotland sult the Conven Authorities befor
Housin
Mr. Craigen State for Scotlan is giving to index limits for housing increases in build the retail price in
Mr. Rifkind : T being considered Department is c the method by w housing associatio
Local Aut Mr. Millan aske for Scotland if he summary form, o power in Scotland March 1974.
Mr. Younger : not available for tl
8 LL 9