asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many warrants for the interception and opening of letters and telegrams by the police have been issued in each of the last three years.

It would not be in the public interest to give this information.

Could my right hon. and learned Friend give details of the circumstances in which such warrants are issued, and will he say if such warrants are issued for the opening of mail in the case of people engaged in legal political activities?

I would not care to add to my Answer. It would not be in the public interest to disclose this information. The practice is strictly in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee of Privy Councillors who made their report in September, 1957.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the central Race Relations Board and the local conciliation committees set up under the Race Relations Act will be able to receive complaints of racial discrimination from voluntary liaison committees.

Yes, Sir, provided that the complaints are made with the written authority of those against whom the discrimination is alleged to have been practised.

May I thank my right hon. and learned Friend for that reply which clarifies a point in the White Paper which was issued recently?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the reasons for his conclusion that it would not be in the national interest to issue visas to Professor Nguyen Van Hieu, Mr. Dinh Ba Thi and Mr. Pham Van Chuong, spokesman of the South Vietnam National Liberation Front, to enter Great Britain for discussions and to address public meetings on the war in Vietnam.

Whilst I would gladly have afforded facilities for any genuine proposals for negotiation which these persons might wish to bring, I was quite satisfied, after consultation with my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, that their sole object in coming to this country was to conduct propaganda justifying armed incursion by the North Vietnamese into South Vietnam. I did not think I would be serving the public interest in providing them with a platform in this country for that purpose, and I am not prepared to reconsider my decision.

Is this not a continuation of the disgraceful abuse of power by the Executive? Is this not a question of the freedom to hear points of view whether we disagree with them or not? Is it not about time that this tit-for-tat nonsense that has been going on for years was stopped?

The answer to all three parts of that question is "No".

Would my right hon. and learned Friend consider whether it is really a correct use of language to call the statement of the case of one side with which one happens to agree legitimate, and the statement of the case with which one does not happen to agree propaganda? Is it not part of the democratic right not merely of the Vietnamese but of the British people to be able to hear both sides of a case?

That depends upon how the case is put. I am quite satisfied that if those gentlemen had come here they would not, in a spirit of sweet reasonableness, have promoted a balanced public discussion of the issue.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied that everything possible has now been done to establish the true facts of the Challenor case, that justice has been done to everyone involved, and that action has been taken to prevent such cases arising in the future; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the James Report.

I have now had an opportunity of considering the report prepared by Mr. Justice James and I fully accept the conclusions he has reached, and am satisfied that no further inquiry is necessary. As the House is aware Mr. Justice James found that no one was to blame for the circumstances in which Detective Sergeant Challenor continued on duty for some three months after the onset of a serious mental illness, and he also examined and rejected a number of allegations made against Sergeant Challenor and various other police officers. Some of these allegations he found to have been inspired by malice. He made recommendations for changes in procedure to avoid the risk of recurrence of cases like the Challenor case and the Commissioner informs me that full effect has been given to his recommendations. I should like to take this opportunity of thanking Mr. Justice James for the great care and labour he expended in producing this very valuable and exhaustive report and also Mr. Good-child for producing a full and thorough report on other aspects of the case.

Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that a number of the 26 allegations have not been publicly examined, that the James Report leaves many important questions unanswered, and that we still have no proposals for preventing a continuation of improper practices at the West End Central Police Station? Will he please arrange for a full debate in this House on the whole subject, which has been tackled very casually so far, and also arrange for the release of the three officers who appear to have been made scapegoats in the Challenor case?

The question of a debate is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House. With regard to the officers who are at present in prison, I did carefully and anxiously consider that, and I ascertained from the learned judges who dealt with that case that the circumstances in mitigation, namely, that they were perhaps to some extent under the influence of Detective Sergeant Challenor, were taken fully into account when the sentences were imposed. It was a difficult decision, but I came to the conclusion that in all the circumstances I would not be justified in recommending an exercise of the Royal Prerogative.

With regard to the first part of my hon. Friend's Question, there was, after all, first the full investigation by Mr. du Rose, then there was a very full investigation, running into hundreds of pages, by Mr. Goodchild, and now we have had a final investigation, which is limited to one aspect of the case, by Mr. Justice James. I cannot think that there are any aspects of the case which have not been fully covered by the three gentlemen who conducted these investigations.

Does not the length of the right hon. and learned Gentleman's answer to that supplementary question indicate the need for a full debate on the James Report, and will he consider making representations on this subject to his right hon. Friend the Leader of the House? Secondly, may I ask what proposals he has to make for paying compensation to the people who were affected by the Challenor case?

I certainly will bring what the hon. Gentleman has said to my right hon. Friend's notice. With regard to the last part of his question, I have no further proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he omitted from his pamphlet dealing with complaints about the police a paragraph previously agreed with the Police Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will amend the leaflet, Police and Public, so as to include a reference to the responsibilities of those who made complaints.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances the caveat desired by the Police Federation was omitted from the pamphlet on complaints about the police issued to the public; what representations he has received from the Police Federation or elsewhere; how many of the pamphlets have been circulated; and whether he will make a statement.

The Royal Commission on the Police recommended that a leaflet describing the procedure for dealing with complaints about the conduct of police officers should be prepared and made available to persons making complaints. In the course of a review of police disciplinary regulations, a draft of a leaflet was considered by a working party comprising representatives of my Department, the police and local authority associations, and this draft, which included the caveat referred to by the hon. Gentleman the Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison), was later placed before the Police Council, though not specifically discussed. In the process of subsequent re-editing changes were made and the caveat omitted as hardly relevant to the context of the leaflet. I accept that the Police Federation attach importance to the caveat, and I regret that there was misunderstanding about this.

I propose to give further consideration to the wording of the leaflet when it is reprinted, in consultation with the local authority and police associations.

Representations have been received from the County Councils Association, the Association of Chief Officers of Police, the Police Federation, two local police authorities and five members of the public.

About 90,000 copies of the leaflet were circulated at the end of August to police stations and citizens' advice bureaux, where they are available on request.

I hope that when Answers are very long Ministers will ask leave to take them at half-past Three.

Surely it would have been fairer to the police, and would have given a better balance to the leaflet as a whole, if the missing words had, in fact, been included as I believe the police thought would be the case, and I wonder whether the right hon. Gentleman will seriously reconsider his decision in this matter and consider including the missing words in future issues of this leaflet?

I have said, and I gladly repeat, that when reissues are made of the leaflet I will take into account what the hon. Gentleman has said.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that many of my constituents were deeply disturbed by what they considered to be the undermining of the police by the responsible Minister at a time of police shortage and a boom in crime? Will the Minister consider withdrawing the first version entirely? Should not he in the first place have hearkened to the Police Federation, even though the Chancellor of the Exchequer is no longer its spokesman?

I have considered that. There is no evidence, at any rate so far as the figures which I have had from the Commissioner are concerned, that the publication of the leaflet has led to any increase in complaints. Indeed, it is not designed for that purpose. It is a simple statement of the procedure to be followed by somebody who wishes to make a complaint. It is not in any sense an invitation to make complaints, and, as I said, I think the proper course is to wait until there is a reissue.

Was not this rather an odd operation at a time when the police are facing a mounting crime wave? If the Minister cannot withdraw the offending circular, will he issue another circular containing this caveat and emphasising the responsibility which rests on those who make complaints about the police?

I have already answered that question, but I simply add that I accept that petty complaints waste a lot of time. Withdrawing the circular will not make the slightest difference, and I hope that members of the public will be very careful when they think it proper to use this procedure in making complaints.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what criteria he will be guided in reaching a decision on the grant of a free pardon to Timothy John Evans.

I cannot usefully consider this question until I have received Mr. Justice Brabin's report.

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that his predecessor, Lord Butler, stated on one occasion that it would be impossible for him to consider the granting of free pardons because there was no precedent in the previous 200 years for doing so? Will the Minister at least consider repudiating this view, and tell the House that he will look at each case on its merits when Mr. Justice Brabin reports to him?

All I can say is that if the occasion should arise I will carefully consider the precedents and whether the appropriate principles apply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how membership of the Norfolk County Council area co-ordinating committee for Ministries concerned with social services in the King's Lynn area is comprised.

The County Council informs me that its Area Co-ordinating Committee consists of the Children's Officer in the chair and representatives of the county health and education departments, the local housing authorities, the probation and after-care service, the N.S.P.C.C., the National Assistance Board, and the Diocesan Council, with others as required.

Does not my hon. Friend agree that these meetings are invaluable for co-ordinating social services at the local level? Will she consult her right hon. Friends in other Ministries to make sure that those Ministries which are not represented on the committee have representation?

I agree with my hon. Friend about the value of these committees, but the composition of the committee is a matter for the local authority. If my hon. Friend sends me particulars of any difficulties, I will certainly look into them and see whether anything can be done.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he has taken with regard to the request of the Consumers Association to tighten up regulations governing the sales of lifejackets and buoyancy aids.

My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has recently set up a working group to consider what Safety appliances pleasure yachts and similar craft under 45 feet in length should be required or recommended to carry. The proposal that the sale of personal buoyancy aids should be controlled by regulations made under the Consumer Protection Act will be considered in the light of the working group's findings. A reply to this effect was sent to the Consumers' Association on 20th September.

While thanking my hon. Friend for that Reply, may I ask whether, in view of the considerable amount of agitation and anxiety that there is about the number of deaths which have been caused in Scotland because of the buoyancy aids being wrongly described as being safe by those who sell them, he will expedite the work of the working committee and see that something is done without delay, particularly in that regard?

We all share the anxiety expressed by my hon. Friend. We are moving with as much urgency as we can, and in the meantime I hope that manufacturers will clearly indicate the precise function for which a particular buoyancy aid has been designed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce regulations to ensure that shotguns are not obtained without a police licence; and if he will make a statement.

I have considered on several occasions the suggestion that the Firearms Acts should be amended so as to make the possession of all types of shotguns subject to the firearm certificate procedure, but, for the reasons I gave the House during the Second Reading debate on the Firearms Act 1965, I do not consider that the results would justify the burdens that would be placed upon the police.

Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that that reply will be very disappointing to those who are particularly concerned with stopping crimes of violence? When sawn-off shotguns can be used for murder, as they have been, is it not more important that they should be brought under the firearm certificate procedure rather than that we should be concerned about the slight inconvenience caused to legitimate users—which I believe to be the main reason why they have not been so controlled?

Sawn-off shotguns are already brought within the scope of the Firearms Act and are forbidden.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking, in accordance with the undertaking given in the White Paper on The Child, the Family and the Young Offender, to consult organisations and workers likely to be involved in proposed legislation in this field; and when such legislation will be introduced.

My right hon. and learned Friend has invited the comments of interested bodies. He cannot at present say when legislation will be introduced.

I thank my hon. Friend for that Answer, but does not she think that it would be wise to take full advantage of the experience of these professional workers, particularly in view of the shortage of trained staff in some parts of the country?

I am not sure that I quite understand that supplementary question. We are taking advantage of the views of trained social workers. We have already had the views of many of them. I have already met some organisations, and I look forward to meeting others in the next few weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make a statement on his plans to build a prison at Nether Alderley, Cheshire.

The proposal is still under discussion with the Cheshire County Council.

Is the Minister of State aware that this proposal involves bringing the prison right into the green belt and taking about 200 acres of the best agricultural land in Cheshire? Is she aware of the real local indignation which exists? Can she say whether sites are being examined elsewhere? Is she aware that waste land is available not many miles away? Will she consider having a public inquiry if she goes ahead with this plan?

We are looking at several sites for prisons. This Question illustrates the difficulties which the Home Office faces in trying to alleviate overcrowding and building better prisons. Everybody agrees in principle that we want more prisons—so long as they are not near him. We have a real difficulty here. I can assure the hon. Member that we are having discussions with the county council and that, if necessary, there will be a public inquiry.

Has not the Cheshire County Council offered two alternative sites which are far more suitable? Would it not be a tragedy to destroy good farming land in a lovely and unspoilt section of the green belt?

I am not sure whether this is in the green belt, as defined by the Minister of Housing and Local Government, although I readily agree that it is in an area which has been considered by the local authority to be in the green belt. There is a distinction. We are looking at several sites, but I re-emphasise that we have to have prisons, and that they have to be built near somebody.

In view of the Minister's failure to give a definite assurance that a public inquiry will be held, I beg to give notice that I shall seek to raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible moment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he made of the total cost in fuel, lighting and other factors of putting back the clocks by one hour and thus ending Summer Time.

No estimate of cost has been made, but the effects on fuel production, and in particular on electricity generation, were among the many factors taken into account when the present arrangements were made.

Does not my hon. Friend agree that it would be a good idea to make an estimate of the cost of putting the clocks back an hour? Would not he consider having an inter-Departmental committee to consult the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs to decide whether or not we should keep Summer Time permanently, and introduce it next year much earlier than is expected?

Many other questions are involved apart from cost, and I am afraid that I cannot accept my hon. Friend's suggestion.

Will the hon. Gentleman examine this matter again? Is he aware that many exporters—especially those dealing with Europe—find this change in the hour extremely awkward? It would help our export trade if he would agree to reconsider the whole matter.

I am aware that there are difficulties for people concerned with the export trade. On the other hand, the farming industry, educational interests, and at least half the trade unions whose workers go to work earlier than most of us in the morning, have a different point of view.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to require coroners to release bodies of air crash victims as soon as possible.

I have no evidence that there is any need for legislation on this matter.

Let us suppose that one of us had been a victim of the Edinburgh-London Vanguard disaster—and it might easily have been so: would not our relatives have wished to have been spared the additional agony of having to wait many days before making funeral arrangements?

I have no doubt that Her Majesty's coroners, who are independent judicial officers over whom I have no control, bear those considerations fully in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the outcome of the inquiries by the Commissioner of Police following the allegation that the Memorial Centre of Help for Babies, Knightsbridge, administered by Mrs. Holman Richards, was in breach of the Adoption Act, 1958; and what has been the decision of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The Memorial Centre of Help for Babies is not now administered by Mrs. Holman Richards and her adoption work is to be taken over by a newly formed properly constituted and registered Society.

Following the reply which I gave on 9th April to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Pontypool (Mr. Abse) the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis decided to make inquiries with a view to determining whether there were grounds for instituting proceedings against the Centre or Mrs. Holman Richards for offences against the Adoption Act, 1958. A report of the results of these inquiries was recently made to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who advised the Commissioner of Police that no action should be taken. The Memorial Centre and Mrs. Holman Richards have been informed of this decision.

Is the hon. Lady aware that the Memorial Centre of Help for Babies takes no part in adoptions, and that this allegation has been the cause of very great distress to an elderly person who has devoted her whole life to social work of great value? I agree that there might have been an unintentional and very technical breach of the Adoption Acts, but is the hon. Lady aware that the decision of the Director of Public Prosecutions not to take any action is a source of very great pleasure to the many supporters of this Centre?

I have said that this work will be taken over by a properly registered society. I think that where adoptions are being made in this manner it is better that the society concerned shall be registered as an adoption society.

Is it not a fact that this distasteful and obnoxious brochure which was being issued in association with the Centre was withdrawn as a result of inquiries made by the police? Would it not have been even more desirable, in order that people should be completely free from ambiguity in the matter, that those who want to arrange adoptions should not attempt to put a coach-and-four through the existing law but see that they are registered properly with local authority supervision?

It is quite true that the brochure to which attention was drawn by my hon. Friend was withdrawn.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many recruits enlisted into the police forces in England in 1963 and 1964 held university degrees.

The figures for police forces in England and Wales are one in 1963 and five in 1964.

Are not the Minister and his right hon. and learned Friend rather alarmed by this very low rate? Recruiting generally for the police force is good. If our Government Departments and big business have a leavening of university men, will not the Home Secretary—in view of the mounting crime wave—look again at the possibility of offering better financial rewards or accelerated promotion for recruited university graduates?

There are now 65 university graduates in the police force, of whom 21 have external degrees. We have recently taken a number of steps which will encourage graduates to enter the police force. If the hon. Member would like me to do so, I will send him the details of what we are doing.

Does not the hon. Gentleman agree that this is not a satisfactory state of affairs? Will he give an undertaking that he and the Home Office will attach high priority to attracting graduates into the police force, and if the terms are not adequate at the moment, will he have them put right? Will he circulate the steps that he is taking in the OFFICIAL REPORT, SO that we can all see them?

I will certainly consider the latter request, and do so if it is possible. I would point out, however, that in 1953 one graduate came in; in 1954, three came in; in 1956, one; in 1959, one, and in 1961, one—so that this is not a new problem. I can assure the right hon. Gentleman, however, that we are trying all we can, because we want the police force to have its full share of graduates.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to the representations made to him by the London taxicab trade for the establishment of a joint consultative committee to discuss matters of general concern to the trade; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend has informed the representatives of the trade that he agrees to the setting up of such a Committee, and he is consulting them about terms of reference and other details.

Can my hon. Friend add to that very welcome reply—welcome, that is, to the trade as well as to me—some indication of the terms of reference for the proposed committee?

The terms of reference will have to be agreed between ourselves and the trade, but I can indicate that its principal rôle will be an exchange of views between the authorities and the taximen about hackney carriage law.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now make a statement on the outcome of the Government's review of the Civil Defence organisation.

The review is still in progress.

Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman not appreciate that his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence said more than three months ago that the Government would be making an announcement on this very soon? Does he not appreciate the very real effect on morale which this continuing delay is having on Civil Defence workers?

An announcement will be made as soon as possible. I understand the need to end uncertainty

Is not the Civil Defence organisation now generally accepted as being redundant? Is it not generally expected that the review will reveal this to be so and abolish the organisation, which no longer has any useful purpose to serve in a nuclear age?

I will certainly not accept that.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Commonwealth citizens were refused entry to this country on arrival at British ports or airports in 1964, and during the first six months of 1965.

In 1964, 907 Commonwealth citizens subject to immigration control under the Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962 were refused admission. For the first half of 1965, the figure was 754.

In the light of these figures, does the right hon. and learned Gentleman believe that the problem of illegal entry which, on his own admission, has reached frightening proportions, is to some extent being checked?

We are certainly doing our level best to do this and the results show that some effect is being accomplished.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many experienced immigration officers have been sent to reinforce the staff in certain posts overseas since the statement of 4th February, 1965.

Six, of whom one was seconded for only three months and has now returned.

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman see whether this figure cannot be sharply increased? Does he realise that stopping Commonwealth immigrants at the ports and airports to the extent which he indicated in his last Answer represents considerable personal tragedy for those involved and that the best way of dealing with this is to do the screening overseas?

I realise that. The officers posted are full-time officers and the posts to which they have been sent have been carefully selected.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners under the age of 21 years are on remand in Holloway prison.

Yesterday morning there were at Holloway prison seven unconvicted prisoners under the age of 21. In addition there were 39 unsentenced prisoners under that age who had been committed for inquiries or to a higher court for sentence.

Is it not scandalous that, as happened in the case a day or two ago, young girls can be kept in Holloway prison for weeks at a time awaiting trial? Will the Home Office take very early steps to see that some kind of remand home facilities are available in the London area?

Of course, it is for the courts to determine how to deal with anyone who comes before them, but I share my hon. Friend's concern that those under 21 should be committed to prison. As he recognises, the problem here is one of the provision of remand centres and I am sure that he will be pleased to know that we now have nine remand centres in the country, including four which have been opened this year. Unfortunately, we have not yet been able to open one for women and girls in the London area, but we are doing our best to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement about United States' rights and facilities in Ascension.

In 1956 the United States were permitted to extend to sites on Ascension Island the Long Range Proving Ground already established in the Bahamas to track guided missiles fired from Cape Kennedy. This year they were also permitted to establish a station to track space craft. The conditions governing both facilities are contained in White Papers (Cmnd. 9810 and Cmnd. 2741). There is also a purely temporary facility for air/sea rescue in connection with the Gemini space flight.

Could the right hon. Gentleman say what advantage accrues to the people of Ascension Island? Can he assure us that there is no erosion of British sovereign rights?

There is certainly no erosion of British sovereign rights. This is entirely a matter with the treaty and the agreement which has been reached. Some slight prosperity accrues to the people of Ascension Island from these facilities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement about the position in Aden.

The improvement in the security situation to which I referred in the House last week has been sustained, and there has been a reduction in the number of terrorist attacks. It remains our unaltered aim to bring South Arabia to independence not later than 1968. Meanwhile, as I informed hon. Members on the 28th October, the Federal Government has appointed two constitutional advisers of the widest experience to help it in its declared intention of going ahead as fast as possible with the liberalisation of the Federal Constitution.

'While noting the Government's intention to stick to the 1968 timetable, may I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman can estimate the time that the constitutional revisers will take to report?

I am much obliged to the hon. Member. They are, of course, working for the Federal Government. They are appointed by the Federal Government and will report to them. They have already begun their investigations and have paid a visit to the territory. I hope that the report to the Federal Government will be submitted very early in the new year.

Could the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether the Federal Government were consulted at all stages when the Constitution was suspended and security measures intensified? Have the measures taken been with their agreement?

Yes, the Federal Ministers are kept fully in contact with all our actions in the area and they were fully informed on that occasion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent the normal movement of goods and vehicles between Gibraltar and Spain is now being frustrated by the Spanish authorities; and if he will make a statement.

I invite the hon. Member's attention to the reply given to the hon. Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) on 28th October.

While the assurances given by the Secretary of State on that day have reassured Gibraltarians, would the hon. Lady not agree that the only acceptable long-term solution is the restoration of friendly relations with the Spanish authorities? What steps are the Government taking to achieve this?

The hon. Gentleman will appreciate that Questions relating to Spain should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when it will be possible to have Georgetown, British Guiana, declared a city and its Mayor a Lord Mayor.

Georgetown has been a city for over a hundred years. The style of Lord Mayor is conferred in exercise of the Royal Prerogative. No formal request for the grant of this dignity has been made.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that there is a certain feeling in Georgetown that they have this by right already, and they do not realise that they must apply for it? In view of the possibility of giving independence, will he remember that Nairobi was given this honour by Prince Philip?

There are no precedents for the grant of this dignity to the mayors of cities in dependent territories and only a few to mayors in independent Commonwealth territories. There are, of course, many cities in this country which would also like this honour conferred upon their first citizens.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will ensure that the interests of the Amerindians are considered during the present independence conference on British Guiana; and what recent reports on the subject will be available to the delegates.

Certainly Sir. The Minister charged with responsibility for Amerindian affairs, who is himself an Amerindian, is among the conference delegates. A recent report prepared at the request of the British Guiana Government by Mr. Knapp, a Canadian sociologist, will be available to delegates.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether, when there are eventually debates in this House—as there presumably will be—on the whole subject of British Guiana, it will also be available for us? There are many hon. Members on both sides of the House who are a little worried about the position of the Amerindians.

I shall certainly see that a copy is made available in the Library. I will take this opportunity of thanking the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion (Sir W. Teeling), and his colleagues, who recently paid a visit to the territory, for the work which they did there.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs how the average increase in hourly earnings for the first half of the year compared with the equivalent period last year.

By 4·8 per cent. in six months compared with 4·9 per cent. a year earlier.

May we take it that we have now got past the rush of wage demands and that it is the First Secretary's view that his incomes policy is now going to work?

On the latter part of the Question, this has been my view for some little time, but I do not wish to be overoptimistic. Things seem to be moving the right way.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what is the total of wage and salary increases at present being demanded; and how this compares with the norm aimed at by the Government and with the situation six months ago.

It is not possible to answer the Question in this form. We know of claims outstanding for about 4 million people, about the same as six months ago.

Apart from the number of claims, can the First Secretary give us their value so that we may get some idea whether we are making the progress which he claims?

That is exactly what I meant when I said that one could not answer the Question in this form. Many of these claims are not just for stated amounts but for various formulae such as "a substantial increase". It is not possible to get that kind of quantified answer.

Is not the serious point about this the fact that all these enormous claims are pending at a time when production in this country is completely stagnant?

I think that the hon. Member has got the whole thing wrong. The total is about the same as it was six months ago, and I suspect that if one goes back into the past one finds that there was about this number of claims in the pipeline at any one time. The hon. Member should do a little research.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to assist the Ford Motor Company and Vauxhall Motors to export to the United States of America and West Germany.

The Board of Trade are in close touch with these companies, both of which are fully aware of the importance of expanding their exports wherever possible and of the wide range of Government services available to help them in furthering their own efforts.

Is my hon. Friend aware that in 1959 these two companies exported 65,000 vehicles to the United States and last year only a little over 4,000? While welcoming American investment in this country, will my right hon. Friend take steps to ensure that they know that we do not wish these companies to be subjected to parental control in favour of other subsidiaries in other countries?

Yes, Sir. We have been in touch with both companies about their export performance both in the United States and in West Germany. They have denied that their poor performance in the United States is in any way due to policy decisions by the parent companies. The position in the United States is that there has been very little demand for British saloon cars, and a large proportion of the British cars sold are sports models which neither Ford nor Vauxhall produce. I understand that the Ford Company has recently taken steps to strengthen its distributive arrangements in the United States and is embarking on a far more vigorous sales drive there.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that for the first eight months in 1965 imports from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics were £70,723,000, and exports only £28,972,000, resulting in the worst adverse trade balance for years; to what extent this is due to British exporters, or to the restrictions imposed by the Soviet Government; what action he is taking to close this trade gap; how soon he expects it to be closed; and if he will make a statement.

Yes, Sir. I am most concerned at the continued failure of the Soviet authorities adequately to implement the undertaking given to the right hon. Member for Bexley (Mr. Heath) in April, 1964, in spite of the energetic efforts of British exporters.

In September my hon. Friend the Member for Walthamstow, West (Mr. Redhead), as Minister of State, Board of Trade, again pressed the Acting Minister of Foreign Trade in Moscow to fulfil Mr. Patolichev's promise that the Soviet Union would continue to take the necessary measures to achieve a much closer balance in the trade between our two countries. I shall watch the situation carefully with a view to seeing how this growing imbalance can be put right.

In view of these alarming figures and our perfect right to say to the Soviet Union, "Why do you not buy more of our goods in view of what we are buying from you?", it is no good just being anxious. May I ask what the right hon. Gentleman intends to do about it? Cannot he put more pressure on the Soviet Union to fulfil their promise?

The Soviet Union's purchases from this country have risen in the present year, but I agree with the hon. Member that they have not risen sufficiently to close the gap, and we are therefore considering what action we shall take.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the special responsibilities of the newly appointed Minister of State at the Board of Trade; and to what extent this appointment will stimulate the increase of productive industry in North-East Scotland and the exports from that area to America and Europe.

My noble Friend will be particularly concerned with stimulating the interest of British firms in exporting and in strengthening and improving their organisation for that purpose. It will be his function to promote the expansion of exports from all parts of the country to all overseas markets.

Does the Minister realise that this provides a good opportunity for rectifying a wrong which has been done to the north-east of Scotland by the invidious favouritism shown to the southeast of this island by increasing its communications with the Continent of Europe while neglecting communications between the north-east of Scotland and Scandinavia, and does he not—

Order. The supplementary question is going to be too long.

I think that my hon. Friend is himself a standing proof of the econo- mic prosperity and the political wisdom of Aberdeen and the north-east of Scotland.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state his plans for providing more advance factories and taking other steps to stop the drift south from Aberdeen of skilled craftsmen and other workers.

As Aberdeen is in a development district, all the inducements provided by the Local Employment Acts are available to encourage industrial development there. An advance factory of 12,500 sq. ft. to be built there was included in the programme I announced on 24th September.

May I thank my right hon. Friend for the interest he has shown in this matter, for his visit to Aberdeen and for the constructive action he has taken and is taking to increase industry there?

asked the President of the Board of Trade what new plans he has to assist the shipbuilding industry; and if he will make a statement.

I consider that it would be better to await the report of the Shipbuilding Inquiry Committee, which the Government set up last February, before deciding on new plans to assist the shipbuilding industry to become more competitive.

Quite apart from any plans the Government might be considering—of special assistance to particular yards and so on—does the right hon. Gentleman not appreciate that there is urgent need for assistance of a more general kind? Does he not appreciate that this is an urgent problem which is facing the whole industry?

The shipyards at the moment have, generally speaking, plenty of orders. The problem is not to assist the shipbuilding industry in that respect; the problem is of late launchings and profitless ventures, which are matters for managements and men to do something more positive about.

asked the Preident of the Board of Trade what reply he has sent to the Consumer Council's proposal that all initial doorstep sales be made subject to a three-day period during which buyers can return the goods and have their deposits refunded.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what reply he has sent to the suggestion, made to him by the Consumer Council, of a statutory' provision requiring doorstep salesmen to produce proof of identification.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he proposes to take to deal with the recommendation of the Consumer Council that the activities of unscrupulous doorstep salesmen should be restrained by statute.

I have told the Council that I am studying its proposals.

I thank my hon. Friend for that reply and for the very full information which his Department has sent me. Will he take it from me that there there is widespread public concern about this matter and that we would welcome a very early decision on it?

Yes, Sir. This is a matter of real urgency and we are having discussions with the Consumer Council as well as conducting our own inquiries to see whether it is possible to frame suitable legislation on the lines of the proposal of the Consumer Council.

Will my hon. Friend treat this matter as one of great urgency? Is he aware that in Birmingham, as well as other parts of the country, representatives of encyclopaedia companies are knocking on doors and saying that they are from the education committee and that mothers, housewives and others are thinking that they are from the local authority's education committee whereas they are merely from the education committee of the publication concerned? Will he see that this sort of unscrupulous doorstep selling is stopped as soon as possible?

Yes, Sir. We are aware of the fact that certain encyclopaedia salesmen have adopted these tatctics. I would like to make it clear that this does not now apply to the Encyclopaedia Britannica company, which has taken steps—which are already in operation and of which we approve—and has dropped the sales methods about which my hon. Friend complains. I think that we can take action without legislation, by persuasion and other means, to try to get these practices stopped.