Mr Colin Shepherd: I considered that, but felt that it was better to take the concept of water out of devolution altogether because of the problems that it created. I see no reason to modify my views in the light of the hon. Gentleman's intervention. I am worried about political influence on the Herefordshire and Cheshire side of the border as a result of the structure of the Welsh Assembly, whose politics may...
Mr Colin Shepherd: I heartily agree. That is certainly the sort of point which worries me. Arrogant Socialist government often seeks to dictate to areas which are not under its control. The same problem will arise over the water representation on the WNWDA. Schedule 11 provides for the appointment of five members from England—one each from the county councils of Cheshire and Hereford and Worcester, one each...
Mr Colin Shepherd: Will the Minister let the House know what his views are on the suggestion for ADAS that it might broaden the sphere of its operation to include marketing functions? Will this not lead to an increase in civil servants and duplication of service and be yet a further burden on the taxpayer?
Mr Colin Shepherd: asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether, pursuant to his introducing the inquiry into standards in motorway service stations, he will take steps to review standards of catering on British Railways.
Mr Colin Shepherd: Will the Minister ask the consultants to look into two specific areas that need improvement—first, the provision of catering facilities on long-distance cross-country routes, as these are often absent, and, secondly, the absenteeism and other factors that conspire to the non-inclusion of catering facilities on inter-city trains? I am sure that he will agree that this is absolutely...
Mr Colin Shepherd: This order, as explained by my hon. Friend the Member for Westmorland (Mr. Jopling), effectively reduces the prices paid to producers of liquid milk for the foreseeable future. If there is to be no increase in the retail price of liquid milk, returns to producers must come from somewhere else, since it is, I think, indisputable that producers' costs are also rising. The Dairy Trades...
Mr Colin Shepherd: The Government must steer the course necessary to protect the long-term interests of the consumer and the producer, and balance the returns to the producer with the needs of the consumer so that this sort of situation does not arise with the attractiveness of the market to imported milk. The difference between the premium level for liquid milk sales over manufacturing milk sales is most...
Mr Colin Shepherd: asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a further statement about the withdrawal of the attendance allowance from patients using kidney machines.
Mr Colin Shepherd: Does the Minister agree that the loss of attendance allowance leads to a generally less effective use of dialysis units? Would it not be better to cut across the nonsensical situation whereby everything is stored pending the results of the appeal to the National Insurance Commissioner, and go for both shorter dialysis periods and the attendance allowance?
Mr Colin Shepherd: With reference to what the right hon. Gentleman said just now, will he take a substantially more aggressive approach towards the reopening of this review of the monetary compensatory amounts? The uncertainty to which this will lead in the industry is far from acceptable. Will he say exactly what he proposes to do on this matter?
Mr Colin Shepherd: asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends next to meet the chairman of the British Railways Board.
Mr Colin Shepherd: Is the Secretary of State aware that in the chairman's report this year reference is made to the need for decisions to be taken on financing and replacing the assets of heavy loss-making rural services? What general advice will the Secretary of State be giving the chairman on this matter and, in particular, how does he see the future of the Hereford-Malvern-Worcester link in the light of the...
Mr Colin Shepherd: asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the current rate of male recruitment to the police.
Mr Colin Shepherd: Is the Home Secretary aware that recruitment is not fully offsetting the loss of experienced officers by retirement and resignation? Does he recognise that this is a matter of pay and conditions? Does he further recognise that it is the Government's respon- sibility to provide our country with the protection it needs? Will he implement the Edmund-Davies Committee's report in full when it is...
Mr Colin Shepherd: asked the Prime Minister if he will list his public engagements for Tuesday 11th July.
Mr Colin Shepherd: During the Prime Minister's undoubtedly busy day, will he pause to reflect that during the stewardship of this Labour Government consumer prices have risen by a staggering 91·1 per cent.—the worst of seven major OECD countries—and that food prices have risen by an enormous 99·8 per cent., the next but one to bottom in the same league table? Will he make abundantly clear to the people of...
Mr Colin Shepherd: asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the series of local public inquiries into the footpaths of the old county of Herefordshire will be completed.
Mr Colin Shepherd: I am grateful to the Minister for that considered reply. Is he aware that it is now over a year since the first of these local public inquiries took place, at Ross-on-Wye? Will he undertake to keep behind this programme all the way along the line so that long-standing sore points, such as the public footpath HB1, at Hampton Bishop parish, can be resolved for good and all?
Mr Colin Shepherd: asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he will give the increase in the retail price index since February 1974.
Mr Colin Shepherd: Will the Secretary of State take this opportunity to correct an impression given by his right hon. Friend the Prime Minister during Question Time last Tuesday that a large amount of this deplorable increase was due to our membership of the European Community? Will he make it quite clear that he is in agreement with the answers given by his departmental colleagues to the effect that this...