TNAG-0426-FCO40-472-Construction-of-an-underground-railway-system-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 200

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Written Answers

6 DECEMBER 1973 enclosing leaflets with pension books, but my right hon. Friend is considering what other possibilities there are.

Sewerage (Bawtry)

Mr. Kelley asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will investigate the sewerage system of Bawtry, with a view to exercising his powers to improve it.

Mr. Graham Page: No. Responsibility for providing such public sewers as may be necessary for effectually draining their district and for making provision for the disposal of sewage from the sewerage system rests with the local authority, in this case the Doncaster Rural District Council. I am satisfied that the council is mindful of these duties.

Motorway Lighting

Mr. Cormack asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give instructions for all lighting on motor- ways to be extinguished forthwith.

Mr. Peyton: I refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry yesterday.-[Vol. 865, c. 1262-77.]

Local Government Boundaries

Mr. Beith asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to issue any guidance to district councils on the carrying out of the duty to review the parishes in their area under Section 48(8) of the Local Government Act 1972.

Mr. Graham Page: Yes.

Mr. Beith asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether it is his intention to use the powers conferred on him under Sections 48 and 49 of the Local Government Act 1972 to ensure the early review of proposals for detailed adjust- ments of boundaries which was referred to in paragraph 6 of the annex to his Department's Circular 58-71.

Written Answers

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government electoral areas in accordance with Schedule 11 to the Local Govern- ment Act 1972.

The Commission proposes, however, to carry out an early review of the priority cases listed in its Report No. 6, which was published yesterday and a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member.

Petrol Rationing

Mr. Meacher asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what he esti- mates to be the number of those who, not previously having taken out a motor vehicle licence, have been induced to do so in order to obtain petrol coupons.

Mr. Peyton: More motorists than usual appear to have taken out December licences in advance, but the total num- ber of December licences is, of course, not yet known.

New Towns

Mr. David Reed asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the aspects of amenity development in new towns which it is his policy to finance through development corporations.

Mr. Channon: Amenities are regarded as embracing anything that makes the town pleasant to look at or an attractive place to live and work in, including facilities for the enjoyment of leisure. But each new town has different problems and requirements and it is for the development corporation to decide which activities and operations to support within their financial quota, subject to my right hon. and learned Friend's approval of all major projects.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Hong Kong (Transpori)

Mr. Spearing asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans exist for the construc-

Mr. Graham Page: No. The review of proposals for detailed adjustments oftion of an underground railway system in boundaries referred to in the annex to Circular 58-71 is only one of the tasks before the Local Government Boundary Commission, which is under a statutory duty to give priority to the review of local

Hong Kong; what is the likely capital expenditure; how it will be raised and how repaid; what overall transportation studies were made prior to the production of the rapid transit proposals; and when

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DATE

6.12.1973

COL.

452W

VOL.

865