Mr Edward Milne: asked the Minister of Transport if he will give a general direction to the Railways Board to improve facilities for passengers at railway stations.
Mr Edward Milne: Is my hon. Friend aware that this is a disappointing reply, and that something will have to be done to jog the Railways Board into giving passengers the facilities they require at stations? It is not good enough to pass this off by saying that it is a day-to-day matter; the Ministry must do something about it.
Mr Edward Milne: Will my right hon. Friend have a closer look at the costs of the equipment provided by private manufacturers and at the advertising done by the Department with a view to reducing costs in that direction as well?
Mr Edward Milne: Can my right hon. Friend say something more about the four-point package, how it is evaluated, and what effect it will have on import savings? Can he also tell us how the fertiliser subsidy will benefit the consumer, rather than the monopoly fertiliser firms?
Mr Edward Milne: asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what machinery of administration has now been decided between his Department and the Department of Employment and Productivity to deal with the payment of unemployment benefit; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Edward Milne: Is my hon. Friend aware that his answer will give some satisfaction to those of us who would like to see the Department of Employment and Productivity used more for job seeking and job obtaining purposes, and that if this experiment can be extended throughout the country with a view to leading to full employment, with the Department playing a useful rôle in it, it will be beneficial?
Mr Edward Milne: asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what arrangements have been made in regard to the siting of a central office of the Ministry of Health and Social Security covering the areas of Blyth, Bedlington and Seaton Valley; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Edward Milne: Is my hon. Friend aware that we are grateful to him for this reply and to his regional and local offices for the way in which this work has been carried out in relation to the change? Will he ensure, as he has already done to some extent, that the review period will be used for examining the new position in Seaton?
Mr Edward Milne: asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will issue further advice to local education authorities in regard to the letting of school premises to outside organisations with a view to facilitating the use of school buildings during out-of-school hours; (2) if he will issue a circular advising local education authorities in the building of new schools to include...
Mr Edward Milne: Is my hon. Friend aware that I already have a copy of the circular? Is she aware that in linking these two Questions she was linking two problems which are not directly related? On the question of the use of schools it is imperative that the furnishings of schools should be suitable for adult audiences. Many primary schools are not suitable for those purposes. Will my hon. Friend look at the...
Mr Edward Milne: asked the President of the Board of Trade what talks have taken place between his Department and the Association of British Travel Agents arising from the Report of the Walsh Committee, a copy of which is in his possession; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Edward Milne: Is my hon. Friend aware that in an industry with which the Board of Trade has so much contact, and with which it has had so many negotiations over the past few years, nothing has been done about this latest report? Is my hon. Friend also aware that, arising from this report, there is a growing need for some sort of consumer protection organisation, and that a study of the Walsh Report, which...
Mr Edward Milne: asked the Minister of Transport what assistance he is prepared to give, under the Transport Act, 1968, for the running of the ferry service between Blyth and Cambois; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Edward Milne: In thanking my hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask whether he will endeavour to speed up the decision on this matter in view of the importance of this ferry service to the two areas concerned and also because of the interpretation of provisions of the Act?
Mr Edward Milne: My hon. Friend the Member for Ebbw Vale (Mr. Foot) suggested that when we last debated the Common Market there was a six-line Whip on hon. Members. I suggest that it was really a nine-line Whip. The economic assessment which appears in the White Paper is, in some ways, a follow-up to what occurred on that occasion. This is a useful Motion to be debating, because it enables us to analyse the...
Mr Edward Milne: It is all right for my hon. Friend to say that it is the very opposite, but at least it is logical to argue, if the E.E.C. has twice failed to accept Britain's application for entry, that if our application is accepted this time we have lowered our terms and been less harsh in our demands. It is a myth to suggest that we are building up a power bloc in Europe that may be a counter balance. If...
Mr Edward Milne: Is my right hon. Friend aware that if he makes population comparisons he must compare the membership of Britain with E.F.T.A. with the membership of Britain with the E.E.C.? On its own, the British population figure is the lowest in proportion.
Mr Edward Milne: asked the Minister of Technology if he will indicate the number of new jobs definitely listed for the Blyth constituency in 1970; and what account has been taken of pending pit closures in this estimate.
Mr Edward Milne: I thank my hon. Friend for that reply about the number of jobs listed, but is he aware that the period is four years, and that there is a degree of urgency about this matter? Will his Department look into the possibility of seeing that the bulk of these jobs is available during the next few months?
Mr Edward Milne: asked the Minister of Technology if he will give details of the average lengths of time taken by firms to move into development districts in the North-East and elsewhere following finalising of arrangements and agreements in regard to grants and loans by the various Government Departments concerned.