§ Mr. Madelasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many houses were completed in the public and private sector in the county borough of Luton in the first six months of 1973; and what were the comparable figures for the first six months of 1972, 1971 and 1970.
§ Mr. EyreThe figures for the first six months of 1973 are not yet available. For the first quarters of the years 1970 to 1973, figures appear on page 29 of Local Housing Statistics Nos. 14, 18, 22 and 26. copies of which are in the Library.
§ Motorways (Emergency Telephones) Mr. Lomasasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many miles of motorway are now in use in England and Wales; how many of these are equipped with emergency telephones; and how many of the emergency telephones are equipped with cowls or hoods.
§ Mr. SpeedJust over 1,000 miles of motorway are now in use in England and Wales. All are equipped with emergency telephones. Approximately 600 miles have telephones with hoods.
§ Mr. Lomasasked the Secretary of State for the Environment on what evidence he has decided that hoods or cowls over emergency telephones do not improve the clarity of conversation, or protect the user from adverse weather.
§ Mr. SpeedTests made some years ago by the Department's officials on early designs of motorway telephones showed that hoods or cowls do not necessarily improve the clarity of conversation—nor do they provide significant protection from adverse weather.
§ Mr. Lomasasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many emergency calls on motorways are made daily.
§ Mr. SpeedThe information is not readily available, but reports supplied to the Department in the past showed a calling rate appreciably less than one per telephone per day.
§ Mr. Lomasasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to identify clearly those emergency 221W telephones on motorways that do not have hoods or cowls.